National

Sidney Jones Ordered to Leave Indonesia
Wednesday, 02 June, 2004 | 21:20 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Director of the International Crisis Group (ICG) Indonesia, Sidney R. Jones, has been ordered to leave Indonesia immediately.

This decision was issued by the Indonesian Department of Justice and Home Affairs’ office in Jakarta on Tuesday (01/06).

According to ICG Indonesia chairman, Todung Mulya Lubis, Jones received the decision letter no. w7.A.F.IL.02.01-395 on Tuesday afternoon.

“I do not understand how such letter could be issued as it tends to put a persona non grata status on Jones,” said Lubis on Tuesday night (01/06).

The letter, a photocopy of which has been received by the Koran Tempo newspaper, stated that Jones was a foreigner suspected of conducting acts on which immigration sanctions could be imposed and that there was sufficient evidence regarding this suspicion.

There are three points stated in the letter, including the revoking of Jones’s immigration permit, the order for Jones to leave Indonesia immediately and the statement that this decision would be in force as from June 1.

“This is a repressive act, like those that used to be carried out by the New Order government. There has been an attempt to weaken democracy in Indonesia,” said Lubis.

This quick decision has meant that ICG Indonesia is unable to take the necessary measures to handle the situation.

“Starting from Tuesday (01/06), there is no way out for Jones,” said Lubis, adding that he planned to discuss the matter with the ICG headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Jones had earlier said that she had made attempts to meet with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the House of Representatives (DPR) to explain the matter.

“However, no one has responded to my letter,” she said on Friday (28/05).

Jones said that the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration had refused to extend her work permit in Indonesia because a state agency had objected to the permit extension.

Immigration Office Directorate General spokesman, Ade E. Dachlan, confirmed that Jones’s work permit would not be extended.

According to Dachlan, the permit given by the Indonesian Department of Manpower and Transmigration expired on May 10, 2004.

“We have received the information regarding the Department of Manpower and Transmigration’s refusal to extend Jones’s work permit on May 19,” said Dachlan.
(Johan Budi SP/Yophiandi-Tempo News Room)