Task force on illegal immigrants

Task force on illegal immigrants

DENPASAR: The government will set up a task force to handle
the flow of illegal immigrants to Indonesia, Coordinating
Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono said here Monday.

"Indonesia which is located between Asia and Australia has
become a stepping stone and destination country for illegal
immigrants, especially those from South Asia and Middle Eastern
countries," Yudhoyono said in a coordinative meeting with
officials of Bali's provincial administration.

The government needed to make integrated efforts, through
domestic as well as international cooperation, to stem the flow
of illegal immigrants to Indonesia, he said.

The establishment of a task force and bilateral cooperation
would be needed to handle the problem, the minister said, adding
that the country was already beginning to cooperate with
Australia.

"The government is also cooperating with Malaysia and
Singapore and some international agencies such as the
International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the UN High
Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR)," he said. Antara