What ID for foreign nationals?

We all understand the necessity and good common sense of conducting passport checks of foreigners in a country, and generally the officials are sufficiently experienced and professional in their training to recognize someone who is probably not legitimate from their eyes or demeanor.

A number of us were questioned at a local cafe and it was rather obvious that some were professional people and some were staying at top class hotels. We didn't have our passports on us. I, for one, had a copy of my KITAS (I have been living here for five years). We were then herded down to the local Immigration office while the lucky few who had friends, sent their friends home, or to the hotels to fetch their passports. Others who only had a copy were not taken, why the blatant discrimination? When the passports did arrive we still weren't released until they took our names for their list. Obviously numbers were required to justify their operation. We sat for an extra hour.

Well, Mr. Minister, where we come from, a working resident is only required to carry a work permit or a green card. Also, the South Jakarta office has advised my company to hold the originals and issues copies to their employees. If this is true, then some of us were unduly harassed. Please use this forum to state the law and advise what foreign nationals are required to carry on their persons.

BRIEN DOYLE

Jakarta