Spy agency will monitor foreigners

Spy agency will monitor foreigners

JAKARTA: The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) will soon be
given a bigger role in monitoring the issuance of work permits
for foreigners, an immigration official said Wednesday.

The agency, in conjunction with immigration officials, will
soon begin "coordinated" efforts under a new directorate-general
of intelligence and immigration examination, said Muhammad Indra.

He denied the move was related to last week's controversial
expulsion order against American analyst Sidney Jones, the
Southeast Asia director of the International Crisis Group (ICG).

"This is purely for immigration purposes. There will be
coordinated work with BIN but (they) will not have any authority
to influence decision-making in our policies," he said. --JP