Nearly 1,500 foreigners detained

JAKARTA: The government detained 1,483 foreign citizens, mostly from China, between January and June for various immigration offenses.

Director of Immigration Control and Enforcement Muhammad Indra said on Thursday that 943 detainees had been deported, while the rest were being quarantined. They were arrested in various cities across the country.

Indra said the number of immigration violations increased by 80 percent compared to the same period last year. He blamed the hike on lenient rules for foreigners wishing to enter Indonesia, particularly those entering as tourists. Before 2000, China was categorized as ideologically critical and therefore the government had imposed strict regulations on Chinese tourists entering Indonesia.

He said visa applications from Chinese nationals were on the rise over the past three months.

Many Chinese tourists were detained for selling merchandise, such as binoculars, wristwatches and electronic equipment, directly to consumers. -- JP