KONI to record groups to avoid sending TKI

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)