F

oreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has down played security concerns over the government’s recently disclosed plan to ease visa processing for four countries on the immigration red list, saying they don’t deserve “stereotyping”.

Citizens of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are expected to enjoy easier entry to Indonesia starting early this year, while Pakistan and Afghanistan are reportedly awaiting approval from several agencies.

The four countries are among 13 nations on Indonesia’s immigration red list, meaning their citizens are believed to have potential to create trouble for Indonesian law enforcers and intelligence officers.

The plan is expected to further spur the number of refugees passing through Indonesia to get to Australia. It has also raised some security concerns, especially in relation to transnational crimes in the region, including people smuggling and terrorism.

National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Ansyaad Mbai refused to comment on the new policy, but reiterated that Afghanistan and Pakistan were home to terrorist groups.

Australia, which will likely feel the impact of the policy, says it is up to the Indonesian government to make any changes with its visa requirements.

“The Australian government believes that international cooperation is the most effective way to address irregular migration in the region.

“Australia shares a strong and productive relationship with Indonesia and has established a joint framework to address people smuggling,” Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post.

Marty said that the citizens of these countries should not be stereotyped.

“I think it’s unfair; it’s not right for us to stereotype as if a whole country, including children, is dubbed as a terrorist nation,” the minister said in an interview.

“We hated it when we were. We should know better than anyone else how it feels to be put on a watch list. I’m not going to begin stereotyping my brothers and sisters in Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Afghanistan as if they’re all terrorists. Don’t get trapped in stereotyping other countries,” he added.

Marty said the visa relaxation policy should not further encourage transnational crimes, adding that there would remain procedures to be passed before citizens of the four nations could obtain a visa to enter Indonesia.

He explained that to enter the archipelago, they currently needed so-called calling visas, issued only after a clearing process in Jakarta, rendering the process longer with a small chance of being approved.

Under the new policy, visas will be processed in the Indonesian embassies in the countries of origin of the would-be visitors, in accordance with regular procedures.

“And the embassy may still choose to bring the matter to the attention of Jakarta, should they feel the
necessity to do so,” Marty said.

He added that the policy was aimed at boosting Indonesia’s tourism and partnerships with businesses from the four nations.

He also said his ministry would strengthen cooperation with Indonesian law enforcement to address the security concerns.

Separately, Defense Ministry spokesman Hartind Asrin said the government had completed a draft of the national security bill, which it was hoped would streamline coordination between related institutions in addressing security issues, including transnational crimes.