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