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