Trouble at Cengkareng airport

Trouble at Cengkareng airport

From Pikiran Rakyat

On March 6, 1995 my daughter arrived at Soekarno-Hatta airport from the USA. As soon as she left the plane, her passport was examined and she was taken to the immigration office. The immigration official blamed her because her passport did not bear the stamp of the U.S. immigration. My daughter explained that she had gone to the U.S. immigration and was told that no stamp was needed because her passport is valid until August 1996.

Then the immigration official asked for US$ 100.00 from my daughter. My daughter gave the official $ 50.00 and Rp 20,000. The official was angry at this and asked her, "How long have you stayed in the U.S.?" My daughter replied, "Five years, approximately." The official asked again, "Can't you earn enough money, and why do you give me less than the amount I asked for?" My daughter said, "I have earned the money for my family, not for you."

At that moment my daughter asked that she be allowed to meet me as I was ready to fetch her. She was allowed to come and meet me but her hand bag had to be left with the official. After a short while she returned to the immigration office and remained there for about one hour. Finally she was allowed to leave. At home she was surprised to find that her $ 100.00 and some souvenirs were stolen.

On March 26, 1995 my daughter, who is married to an American, went to Soekarno-Hatta airport again, to return to America. For the second time she encountered trouble. The immigration official asked for money. She said she had only $ 85.00 with her and Rp 250,000 for the fiscal tax. The official did not believe her and started searching her bag and took the all the money, leaving only $ 1.00.

As she could not find me she started crying. But God is merciful and gave justice to her. An unidentified elderly man helped her to pay the fiscal tax so she could go to the U.S. to join her husband and their three beloved children.

I deplore the incident my daughter had to face at Cengkareng airport. And I would like to thank the man who helped my daughter in such a difficult situation.

MRS. SRI SUMARTINI

Bandung, West Java