Indians questioned over work permits
Indians questioned over work permits
JAKARTA (JP): The Directorate General of Immigration has
questioned eight employees of PT Tripar Multivision Plus (PT
TMP), who are all Indian nationals, for allegedly violating
immigration procedures.
The director of the immigration supervision department, Zaiman
Nurmatias, said in a press release sent to The Jakarta Post
yesterday that the eight are identified as Sharad Sharan, Zala
Mukesh Vadandigh, Haresh Laxman Sawant, Nemichand Bhagwansa Gore,
Suresh Somappa, Sanjaj Sanatan Prasad, Vasant Ramjibhai Patel and
Rajesh Kumar Rahi.
"They were questioned yesterday during the shooting of a TV
drama called Janjiku at the Cipinang Raya housing complex in East
Jakarta," Zaiman said.
The questioning by the immigration office followed a report
from a newspaper reporter who told immigration officers that he
and several fellow journalists were barred from covering the
shooting of the drama. He said they were also not allowed to take
pictures.
A team from the immigration office was then sent to the
location. The team monitored the location for about four hours.
Zaiman said when the immigration officials arrived at the
scene, the drama crew were waiting for the arrival of popular
local drama starlet Paramita Rusadi. After Paramita arrived, the
immigration officials entered one of the houses at the location
for the shooting of the drama and immediately asked the eight
Indian men to show their travel documents.
"It turned out that none of them could show their legal travel
documents," Zaiman said.
Following intensive questioning at the head office of the
directorate general of immigration, Zaiman said that the eight
Indians entered Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta airport by using
the Multiple Business Visa facility issued by the Indonesian
embassy in Bombay.
They were given working permits by the Ministry of Manpower on
Sept. 12. However, in their application letters for visas and in
a written statement signed by Raam Jethmal Punjabi, an Indian
immigration official, it was implicitly stated that their
intention for coming to Indonesia was merely for business and not
to seek jobs.
"Therefore, they have violated the immigration procedures
because in their visas, it is clearly stated that they are not
allowed to work in Indonesia," Zaiman said, adding that the
Indians might be deported immediately. " But we need to consult
the Ministry of Manpower first."
PT TMP produces the Janjiku drama in cooperation with Tash
Network Ltd. based in Bombay, India. The leading stars in the
drama are Paramita Rusadi and Reynold Subekti. The drama also
features several other Indonesian actors and artists, including
Anwar Fuadi, Ully Artha and AB Fauzi.
According to a crew member, the drama will have 30 episodes.
On Sept. 10, the immigration office arrested six foreigners
who failed to show legal travel documents.
The foreigners, all in their 20s, are from Morocco and
Algeria.
Ten days later, the Tangerang office of the Ministry of
Manpower deported three foreigners for working without the
necessary permits.
Two of the three deported foreigners were Japanese nationals
who worked at a garment factory in Mauk district, Tangerang.
(bas)