Nest of extortionists

Nest of extortionists

From Media Indonesia

The government's efforts to give the best services to
Indonesian workers returning home from jobs overseas have not
yielded results as yet. This is mainly caused by the absence of
any measures taken against frauds and extortionists. Moreover,
there is an apparent lack of control.

The gathering of the workers at Terminal III makes it easier
for the extortionists, cheaters and hoaxers to act.

1. Friends or relatives are not allowed to see the workers at
Terminal III before the workers call them. The workers themselves
have no idea whether their friends and relatives are there
already. There is no communication between the two sides.

2. Cheating and exercising force can be done freely because
there is no control of these practices. At Terminal II there is
less freedom to cheat because many people would see the
frauds. The rooms at Terminal III are closed so friends or
relatives of the workers do not know what is going on inside. If
a worker reports to an official about a fraud, the latter just
responds lightly, "It is your own fault, why did you want to be
cheated, you should be careful!"

3. Indonesian workers coming home from abroad are compelled to
use the services of an airport-based travel agency with an
exorbitant tariff, although friends or relatives are at the
airport to pick them up. If they do not want to use the travel
agency's services, they are forced to pay "compensation money".

4. The guards at the gate are extremely nasty when the workers
have not met their friends or relatives. As soon as the relatives
or friends have arrived, the guards change their tactics. They
become soft-spoken and ask for money.

5. The workers are transported by bus from Terminal II to
Terminal III. They are forced to pay "gasoline money". Officially
there is no cost for the trip.

I am sure there are many more examples of atrocious treatment
of workers and their relatives or friends.

It is therefore important to review the existence of Terminal
III. Is it necessary to keep it, but with stricter control, or
had it better be dissolved for the common good?

JAWAWI YAHDI

Cirebon, West Java