Indonesia denies entangling visas to Chinese shuttlers

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian embassy in Beijing has denied reports that it complicated the visa issuance to Chinese shuttlers wanting to attend the Indonesian Open in Solo, Central Java.

Embassy staffer Bunyai Saptomo said yesterday that the processing of the shuttlers' visas was finalized on July 10.

"It's not true that we (the embassy) delayed or complicated the visas for the Chinese shuttlers for the Indonesian Open," Bunjai said in Beijing, as quoted by Antara.

Bunjai said that the embassy's immigration department received the application from the Chinese foreign ministry for their seven players on June 27.

Among the seven Chinese players are world women's singles title holder Ye Zhaoying and Olympic women's doubles champions Ge Fei and Gu Jun.

On the same day, the embassy sent the application from the Chinese foreign ministry to Jakarta for approval.

On July 10, the embassy received approval for the visas from Jakarta and the visa issuance process was completed by that afternoon.

At 3 p.m. that day, Zhou Lie from the Chinese foreign ministry came to collect the visas. An embassy officer asked him to wait while he checked to see if everything was sorted.

"But because of his business, Zhou Lie did not want to wait. Usually, he would have waited since it is considered a very important matter," Bunjai said.

On July 12, another officer from the same ministry came and brought another visa application for the other passport holders. While he was there the embassy asked the officer to take the visas but he replied that he would collect them at another time.

Since Saturday and Sunday were public holidays, there was no request from the Chinese foreign ministry to take the passports. "The embassy is always ready should the ministry want to collect the passports, even on holidays," Bunjai said.

On July 14, a ministry officer forwarded another visa application. But again he did not take the processed visas.

"At 3 p.m. on July 14, the officer returned and took the passports of the Chinese team members which had been issued with the necessary visas," Bunjai said.

Based on the chronology, the embassy has denied the accusations by the Chinese team coach Li Yong Bo that China declined to participate in the Indonesian Open because the embassy delayed the issuance of the visas.

"We regret the statement by Li Yong Bo and want him to be held responsible for his words. We are always on hand should the Chinese foreign ministry wish to check on the report," Bunjai said. (lnt)