Travel permits for locals

Travel permits for locals

From Media Indonesia

Media Indonesia reported on Aug. 12 that any Indonesian
planning to holiday in Bali was "required" to carry a travel
permit (SPKD). Students with identification (KTP) and student
cards were detained because they could not produce their SPKD
permits. They had violated a regional regulation on orderliness.

Even more interesting was a statement by attorney Ida Ayu
Kusuma Dewi, and supported by attorney Haryono Sreta Neotromi
Lomi Sensi, that Jakarta KTPs were not valid in Bali. There was
no further information available.

We agree with the crackdown on KTPs to seek out people who do
not have identification cards, but a number of issues need
clarification.

Is a KTP the legal identity card which is valid throughout
Indonesia? What article of the regulations in Bali did the
students violate so that their Jakarta KTPs were not valid?
What is the definition of an SPKD? Is it compulsory nationwide or
do the regulations apply in certain provinces only? Has the
tourism sector considered this matter?

RRI said that in 1996 there were 10 million domestic tourists
in Indonesia compared to five million foreign tourists. Thus,
there is ample potential for domestic tourism.

Imagine if every Indonesian, planning to leave his or her
province, had to carry a SPKD! Just imagine what long lines there
would be if residents of Bogor and Bekasi, who work in Jakarta,
were required to carry travel permits!

The authorities need to provide the community with information
to avoid inconsistencies.

ALBERT

Jakarta