ID :
35005
Wed, 12/10/2008 - 23:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/35005
The shortlink copeid
FM DENIES RI VISA SOLD IN KABUL FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Nusa Dua, Dec 10 (ANTARA) - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda denied here on Wednesday that the Indonesian embassy in Kabul had sold visas to facilitate human trafficking to Australia.
"I categorically refute the accusation that we issued visa for the purpose of human trafficking in exchange for payments," he said on the sidelines of a Bali Democracy Forum meeting.
The minister said the accusation was absolutely groundless because the Indonesian government had strict rules on issuing visas.
He said the accusation of visa trading was made by an Australian newspaper in a report on a rise in the number of people seeking to enter Australia.
"Although the accusation is groundless, we will not ignore it. The foreign ministry will check it with the embassy in Kabul," he said.
The minister said Afghanistan had been categorized as a sensitive country for the issuance of visas and therefore all visa applications received in Kabul were always referred to Jakarta for rechecking by the immigration service, the foreign ministry and intelligence agencies. "The measure was instituted to ensure that the persons who receive the visas do not pose a security risk," he said.
He also said no member of the Indonesian embassy staff in Kabul was allowed to issue a visa except if it was signed by the ambassador himself.
"According to our records, one or two visas were issued for Afghan officials who would come to Indonesia to attend a conference or for an official visit," he said.
The Australian newspaper quoted an Afghan in Australia as saying Indonesian visas were sold for US$1,500 a piece.
The Indonesian police, in cooperation with Australian police, were reported to have detained two senior players in human trafficking from Indonesia to Australia, namely a Pakistani known as Sakih and an Indonesian named Khairudin.
Australian authorities have said they had interdicted six human smugglers' vessels since September off Australia's west coast.
"I categorically refute the accusation that we issued visa for the purpose of human trafficking in exchange for payments," he said on the sidelines of a Bali Democracy Forum meeting.
The minister said the accusation was absolutely groundless because the Indonesian government had strict rules on issuing visas.
He said the accusation of visa trading was made by an Australian newspaper in a report on a rise in the number of people seeking to enter Australia.
"Although the accusation is groundless, we will not ignore it. The foreign ministry will check it with the embassy in Kabul," he said.
The minister said Afghanistan had been categorized as a sensitive country for the issuance of visas and therefore all visa applications received in Kabul were always referred to Jakarta for rechecking by the immigration service, the foreign ministry and intelligence agencies. "The measure was instituted to ensure that the persons who receive the visas do not pose a security risk," he said.
He also said no member of the Indonesian embassy staff in Kabul was allowed to issue a visa except if it was signed by the ambassador himself.
"According to our records, one or two visas were issued for Afghan officials who would come to Indonesia to attend a conference or for an official visit," he said.
The Australian newspaper quoted an Afghan in Australia as saying Indonesian visas were sold for US$1,500 a piece.
The Indonesian police, in cooperation with Australian police, were reported to have detained two senior players in human trafficking from Indonesia to Australia, namely a Pakistani known as Sakih and an Indonesian named Khairudin.
Australian authorities have said they had interdicted six human smugglers' vessels since September off Australia's west coast.
