KONI to clarify report on illegal migrant workers
KONI to clarify report on illegal migrant workers
JAKARTA (JP): Secretary General of the National Sports Council
(KONI) Rudolf S. Warouw said he would invite representatives of
three sports organizations to respond to allegations that they
had sent illegal migrant workers overseas by falsely identifying
them as athletes and sports official.
Warouw was commenting on a recent report by the local daily
Media Indonesia accusing the Indonesian Table Tennis Association
(PTMSI), the Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) and the
Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI) of selling visas to migrant
workers identified as athletes and sports officials who would
compete in overseas tournaments.
"I'm not so sure about the allegations. We will check this
information with officials of the sports organizations. If the
reports prove to be true, we will take stern measures with those
responsible," he said on Friday.
He said that the council also would seek clarification from
other sports organizations to avoid any crisis of confidence
towards Indonesian continents from foreign hosts.
He said that visas are issued by KONI and are approved by the
state minister of youth affairs and sports.
"Sponsoring sports organizations are required to put the names
of the athletes and coaches on the visas," he said, adding that
KONI did not easily accept names submitted by sports
organizations.
"We have to maintain our good image, particularly in the
countries where our athletes perform. If an organization gave
unknown names to us, we would ask them. Basically, we do not
allow people who have no connection with the competition or
tournament to go," he said.
He said he would ask the council's legal commission to deal
with the cases if any of the accusations proved to be true.
In an unrelated matter, Warouw, who just returned from the
Association of the National Olympic Committees (ANOC) meeting
(May 24-May 26) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said that Malaysia had
expressed its hope to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
He also said that Malaysia would host the 2002 ANOC meeting to
further discuss the possibility of hosting the quadrennial event.
"The Malaysian government has strong political will to develop
its sports," he remarked.
He said that the IOC would send its official, Pierre de
Mierro, to ask KONI's opinion on East Timor's participation in
this year's Olympic Games in Sydney. De Mierro is scheduled to
arrive here on June 17.
"KONI will consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' about its
participation. East Timor is liberated from Indonesia, so the
council has no problem with its participation in Sydney," he
said.
A handful of athletes from East Timor will be allowed to
compete as individuals in the Sydney Olympics under the status of
"Individual Olympic Athletes". They will be without national
colors or anthems.
East Timor voted last year to break from 24 years of
Indonesian annexation. The United Nations is helping East Timor
to prepare itself for independence. (ivy)