The Entry of 157 Chinese Citizens into Indonesia

Recently, 157 foreign nationals from China arrived in Indonesia not as tourists but for work-related purposes. This was clarified by the Director-General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Jhoni Ginting. He emphasized that these visa holders complied with all necessary immigration regulations, falling under the guidelines of work activities as per Menkumham Regulation No. 26 of 2020.

Jhoni confirmed that these individuals have successfully passed all health checks mandated by the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, ensuring their negative Covid-19 status before entry. They were onboard China Southern Airlines flight CZ387 from Guangzhou, landing at 5:00 AM local time.

Essential Travel to Indonesia

Jhoni further elaborated that foreign entries into Indonesia are strictly for essential purposes, such as:

• Work on national strategic projects
• Family reunification
• Medical and humanitarian assistance
• Transportation equipment crews

Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the DPR RI, Syarif Abdullah Alkadrie, advised the public not to feel overlooked as the government has instituted a homecoming ban during the pandemic. He noted that while citizens are restricted, flights for foreign workers are still operational to maintain necessary services.

Public Concerns Regarding Foreign Arrivals

Amidst these dynamics, public concern arises, especially when foreigners are allowed entry while locals experience mobility restrictions. Various officials, including Cak Imin (Muhaimin Iskandar) and Commission IX member Netty Prasetiyani, have called for clear communication from the government to mitigate confusion.

Cak Imin urged the Covid-19 Task Force to clearly explain the rationale behind allowing foreign entries to avoid perceptions of disparity in policy enforcement. Furthermore, Netty highlighted the need for governmental explanations to avoid creating misunderstandings among citizens limited in their mobility.