KONI to record groups to avoid sending TKI

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will record the number of contingent members, including supporters, who will take part in overseas tournaments to avoid sending illegal migrant workers (TKI) pretending to be members of the delegation.

KONI secretary-general Rudolf S. Warouw said on Friday that sports organizations often failed to report results and to meet with chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar upon arrival in Jakarta.

He said some sports organizations might be able to cheat the council and foreign embassies that issue visas because KONI failed to recheck.

"We are also responsible for the fraud. We must do something to avoid this. We don't want foreign embassies to lose their confidence in us because some people misuse the visas," he said.

Warouw said KONI always verified the name of the contingents, their functions, their preparation and their purposes abroad before granting approval.

"We have to be very careful because we don't want to create any problems. We should recheck if all the members of the contingents have returned. Sports organizations usually report to the chairman before they leave and they fail to inform us when they return.

"It's always useful to recheck so KONI and sports organizations won't be cheated."

Sports organizations must submit a list of their contingents to the council and have it approved by the office of the state minister of youth affairs and sports. The council will then issue a confirmation letter to the immigration department.

Warouw was responding to allegations that former secretary- general of the Indonesian Tae Kwon Do Association (TI) Ahmad Zarkasih reportedly approved sending illegal workers to the Inter-University tae kwon do championships in Kaohsiung, China Taipei, which cost Ahmad his post.

The case is now being handled by TI chairman Suharto. The latter also appointed TI's official in charge of the student and college division Adrian Lumowa to replace Zarkasih until new management could be set up at a national congress in 2001.

Reports said foreign embassies refused to issue visas to Indonesian athletes and sports contingents who wish to compete overseas for fear that some of the contingents would not return to Indonesia, but instead seek work in that country.

Warouw said TI had not reported Zarkasih's resignation to the council.

"There has not been any proof that the former secretary- general approved sending illegal workers. We are still waiting for TI's report," he said. (ivy)