RI to remove barriers for visa applicants from China

RI to remove barriers for visa applicants from China

By Kornelius Purba

BEIJING (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid criticized
Indonesia's overly-strict immigration regulations for Chinese
citizens entering Indonesia, saying the tight policy was merely a
ruse to extort money from visa applicants.

Abdurrahman, on the second day of his state visit here, said
on Thursday that upon his return to Jakarta he would summon
immigration officials to order the abolishment of prevailing
restrictions which often extorted money from visa applicants from
China.

"It's clear that there should be no more barriers for people
from China entering Indonesia, and we must eliminate all
unnecessary obstacles," he said briefing Indonesian journalists.

Citing a complaint from a close friend, Abdurrahman claimed
during one incident a visa applicant from China had to bribe an
official US$400 in order to gain entrance to Indonesia.

The President did not reveal who his friend was.

"The difficulties in obtaining a visa are abused by many
irresponsible officials who charge up to $400 per visa. It is no
longer tolerable," Abdurrahman said.

Abdurrahman has gone out of his to make sure that China is
his first official state visit despite already visiting 13
countries.

The theme of his visit so far has been to erase perceptions of
anti-Chinese sentiment, particularly as a result of the May 1998
riots.

The President repeatedly pledged his commitment to fair and
equal treatment for all and called on Indonesians of Chinese
descent who fled the country to return.

Jakarta and Beijing only resumed diplomatic ties in 1990 after
being frozen since 1967, two years after an abortive communist
coup which Indonesia claimed at the time involved China.

In a separate meeting on Thursday with about 200 members of
the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) who especially flew
to China with him, Abdurrahman reiterated his determination to
end discriminative practices.

According to Abdurrahman, the issue was also raised by Chinese
President Jiang Zemin during their talks on Wednesday.

Markus Alim, chairman of Maspion group, told Abdurrahman that
the complicated visa procedures discouraged many Chinese
businessmen from investing in Indonesia.

Kadin chairman Aburizal Bakrie said that according to the
current system, Chinese citizens, including tourists, who apply
for a visa at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing must have their
request first sent to Jakarta for approval from the immigration
directorate general and from the Coordinating Intelligence Agency
(Bakin).

Abdurrahman remarked that it was nonsense to still be haunted
by the communist threat while the international community and
even the communists themselves had lost their faith in their
ideology.

"I think its only us who are still officious in making it a
problem," he remarked, adding that he would also revoke
regulations banning restrictions on the development of Chinese
culture, including a ban on the use of Chinese characters.

The President also used the opportunity on Thursday to
announce the appointment of businessman Sofyan Wanandi as head of
the newly established Business Development Body which will be
assigned to advise the President on business affairs.

When asked by journalists, Sofyan said he was surprised by the
announcement.

Abdurrahman, accompanied by First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, had a
medical checkup in the morning at the Ophthalmological Hospital
of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He said
the hospital would send Prof. Tang, a respected ophthalmologist,
to stay for up to four months in Jakarta to cure the president's
failing eyesight and to train Indonesian doctors on traditional
Chinese medical treatment.

"After the checkup it was concluded that there is still hope
for me to see again," Abdurrahman said.

On Friday, the President is scheduled to give a lecture at the
Beijing University on Indonesia-China relations, before attending
Friday prayers at Niujie Mosque.