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Aceh,
Papua, Ambon still closed to foreign researchers
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The
Jakarta Post
March
15, 2003
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Aceh, Papua, Ambon still closed
to foreign researchers
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian
provinces of Aceh and Papua, as well as Ambon city in Maluku
province, are still closed to foreign researchers for security
reasons, an official said on Friday.
"Although some parts of those provinces no longer have a
security problem, they have yet to be declared safe," Ridwan
Jacob, head of the Science and Technology Cooperation and
Promotion Bureau at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI),
was quoted by Antara as saying.
Ridwan made the statement as a number of foreign researchers into
orangutans had recently made enquiries about why they were still
not allowed to work at Ketambe research station in southeastern
Aceh.
He explained LIPI had issued permits to foreign researchers after
consultations with 15 other relevant government institutions,
including the National Intelligence Agency (BIN),institutions,
including the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the home
ministry and the immigration office.
Those institutions had to consider the foreign researchers'
proposals, personal backgrounds and the security situation in the
country.
Security considerations were being given top priority as Indonesia
did not want to take the risk of unforeseen incidents happening to
foreign researchers, he said, adding, "Likewise, we would
blamed for issuing permits for research in conflict areas".
According to Ridwan, LIPI received 15 to 20 research proposals
from foreign parties every month.
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