Alien Encounters

(10/28/2011)

Denpost, Nusa Bali and The Jakarta Post all confirm that an official operation is now underway in Bali seeking to identify foreigners living on the island lacking proper immigration and working permits.

Quoted by The Jakarta Post, Anak Agung Made Sumarjaya of the Denpasar Public Protection Agency (Kesbangpolinma) confirmed that starting from October 24, 2011, the Denpasar administration has been checking visa and permits held by foreigners in order to curb transnational crime.

Said Sumarjaya, “we know where the foreigners live from regular reports from the district heads. We are targeting these locations.” Claiming many foreigners in Bali were involved in crimes ranging from drug trafficking to pedophilia, he added,
 “as one of the foreigners’ main entrances to Indonesia, Bali should be more aware. Therefore, we are conducting this operation.”


During the initial sweeps, a number of foreigners living in Bali in apparent violation of the law were netted by municipal officers. He said typical violations included foreigners discovered to be working in Bali using a short-term visitor visa.

In operations conducted on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, among five foreigners reviewed by officials, two were found to be in violation of immigration rules and referred to the police for further disposition. Sumarjaya said foreigners found to be violating the law can be imprisoned and eventually deported.

Indonesian law does not permit foreigners to work in paid or unpaid positions unless they hold a proper working permit (izin kerja) issued by the Department of Manpower and accompanying temporary resident immigration permit (KITAS) .