Over 500 illegal migrants netted
Over 500 illegal migrants netted
JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta mayoralty has netted some 500 people in a predawn raid to stem the flow of migrants to the capital.
"Some 400,000 people are estimated to come to Jakarta every year," South Jakarta Deputy Mayor Zainuddin was quoted by Antara as saying.
This influx peaks after the Idul Fitri holidays. The holiday fell on February this year.
The raid was conducted in Kuningan Timur and Karet Kuningan sub-districts. A total of 103 out of 516 people, possessing identification cards, were released. Another 283 people were tried Thursday for various violations, such as not having identification cards, littering, and selling on the street. The trials were conducted in a makeshift court in a tent in a city park near the Blok M bus terminal.
The court session presided over by judge Bachtiar Lubis dished out fines ranging from Rp 3,500 to Rp 18,000, depending on the nature of the violation. Total fines collected amounted to Rp 2.8 million.
The raid, which was conducted late Wednesday night until Thursday morning, was dubbed Operasi Yustisi.
The Jakarta city administration sent home 199 illegal residents Thursday in two buses, at the government's expense. Most of them hailed from Central Java, said a staffer at the South Jakarta mayoralty.
Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi vows to continue the raid.
"These predawn raids are more effective than daytime operations," Kahfi told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
He said he had instructed the heads of the subdistrict in Central Jakarta to identify newcomers and illegal manpower brokers in the areas.
Some 131 job seekers were netted early Wednesday morning at a house in the Rawasari sub-district, Cempaka Putih. A "worker export" company, PT Alverdi Surya Buana, was allegedly planning to send them to Saudi Arabia.
In the raid, the city also caught 267 people at boarding houses in the sub-district of Paseban, Galur and Rawasari in the district of Senen, Johar Baru and Cempaka Putih.
Kahfi said yesterday most of the people caught in the raid were unable to show the authorities their ID cards.
"Some 78 people have been returned to their hometowns, or fined an average of Rp 50,000," he added.
People who want an ID card should have a source of income of at least Rp 4,600 a day, he said, referring to the minimum wage.
Referring to people's complaints that the raid disturbed their sleep, Kahfi said the raid would not be repeated in the same place and that it would benefit the whole of society in the future.
"We hope that people will support this operation," he said.
Meanwhile, Kahfi confirmed yesterday that the mayoralty will receive 50 customized minivans which double as mobile stalls from First Lady Mrs Tien Soeharto at the presidential palace today.
The minivans will be offered to street vendors on installment without any interest, he said.
The city will designate a place, such as Monas park, for the minivan owners to sell their goods, he added. (04/14)