'Operation' ID

I would like to share my opinion concerning the ID card operation conducted in Jakarta a few days ago. I can't fully comprehend the way the raid was conducted; passersby and public transport passengers were stopped and they were required to present their Greater Jakarta IDs, or they would have to pay fines.

Some people from out of town who happened to spend their holiday here were netted for failure to show IDs of proper travel documents. I don't understand this. These people do not live in Greater Jakarta. Surely, they don't have Greater Jakarta IDs. They might come here for a visit. Do people from outside Jakarta really need travel documents if they come here for a visit? If so, is there any law to that effect?

I also saw on TV that some foreign tourists were nabbed during the raid for not carrying their passports with them. One of them seemed to have a traumatic experience and made a negative comment, saying that he would never come to visit this country again. A bad advertisement for the tourism business, and it could even soil the country's image abroad.

I understand that the raid was aimed at curbing urbanization. Yet a clear cut regulation on this matter is required and the people should be notified. I urge Jakarta authorities to carry out the operation in a more appropriate manner.

According to a district official, to get a Jakarta ID is easy and inexpensive. This might be true in theory. In practice it is not that easy. Jakarta needs to create a better system for ID issuance and provide a better service for society.

TITIEN D SOESARDI

Jakarta