Official refutes rumored exodus

JAKARTA (JP): The number of Indonesians and foreigners leaving Jakarta for overseas destinations in the last three months has dropped significantly despite widespread rumors of likely unrest before the June general election, an immigration official said on Tuesday.

Immigration data from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport showed the number of Indonesians headed abroad reached 112,343 in December, 103,914 in January and 60,836 last month, said Hamsuk S. Wijaya, coordinator of Jakarta immigration affairs.

Almost constant numbers were recorded among foreign nationals, with 66,058 leaving during the peak holiday season in December, 54,873 in January and 54,818 in February, he said.

The number of Indonesians entering the country through Jakarta reached 77,632 in December, 105,492 in January and 54,418 in February. Foreign arrivals totaled 56,601, 64,181 and 59,013 during the corresponding period, Hamsuk said.

Departures, he added, were "still normal" compared to the massive exodus amid widespead unrest in May last year.

"Most of the Indonesians who went abroad recently were workers leaving for Middle Eastern countries, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan."

His office also recorded no substantial increase in the number of passport applicants in the capital, which the average daily level of 200.

Last May, passport applications reached from 350 to 600 per day, he said.

"Immigration officers worked until 11 p.m. last year to process the passports," Hamsuk added. (jun)