RI says rising influx of immigrants `inevitable'

Ary Hermawan ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 07/04/2009 1:06 PM  |  World

As long as the problems plaguing their countries of origin remain unresolved, the rising influx of illegal migrants into Indonesia is inevitable, the Foreign Ministry said Friday, adding the government did not foresee a decline in their numbers.

"The conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq are worsening," said ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah.

"It is very likely that immigration from those countries will continue to increase."

Illegal immigration has been a regional concern in Southeast Asia in recent years, as violence and poverty continue to weigh on people in several South Asian countries, particularly Afghanistan.

Indonesia has recently become a favorite transit point for Afghan immigrants heading to Australia, which they believe can give them a better livelihood. A neighbor of Australia's, the predominantly Muslim archipelago is a perfect stopover for illegal travelers.

Concerned with the issue, Faizasyah said participating countries of the Bali Process would hold their first ad-hoc meeting from July 27-29 on the eponymous resort island, in which they would discuss the root causes of migration problems in each country.

The Bali Process was set up in 2002 to curb illegal boat arrivals and people smuggling in the Asia-Pacific region. Indonesia co-chaired the forum with Australia.

Faizasyah said the government welcomed an Australian court decision to sentence 11 Indonesians to six years in prison for helping 147 asylum seekers enter the neighboring country, saying it would serve as a deterrent for other Indonesian enablers.

"We have told our sailors not to accept offers from immigrants. They should know there are consequences they have to face if they do it," he said.

"The most important thing to do internally is to better coordinate our law enforcers."

Separately, Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Panich Vikitsreth met with his Indonesian counterparts to discuss a number of issues, including the fate of Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar.

"This is a regional issue, which ASEAN members have to discuss among themselves and with other countries also involved, like Australia and Bangladesh," Vikitsreth said.

"The message I want to convey is that they are human beings and you must treat them as human beings," he went on, adding he hoped the upcoming Bali Process meeting would result in the best solution to the problem.

The UNHCR last month reported there were about 1,928 Rohingya in Indonesia, a modest figure compared to 45,000 in Malaysia and 100,000 in Thailand.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.