TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Jacob Nuwa Wea, the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, has stated that the government is to stop sending Indonesian workers to Middle East countries as requested by Indonesian embassies in these countries. This will be effective as of February 1, 2003, and is due to the United States plan to attack Iraq. We received letters from Indonesian embassies in these countries requesting [the government] to stop sending Indonesian workers temporarily, said Jacob in Jakarta on Wednesday (22/1). Previously, Kirnadi, an official at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, issued a letter to stop sending Indonesian workers to the Middle East countries temporarily. The letter dated January 20, 2003, was sent to the heads of Indonesian Labor Enterprises (PJTKI), the Association of Labor Export Companies (APJATI) and the Indonesian Employee Agencies Association (IDEA). This policy is intended at providing security for Indonesia workers overseas. Jacob has instructed all PJTKI members not to send Indonesian workers to the Middle East countries, or else he would take strict action against them. He emphasized that PJTKI has to put a priority on the safety of workers. Jacob went on to say that Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration will evacuate about 33,000 Indonesian workers from these countries. In addition, the government will also evacuate Indonesian citizens living in countries that border Iraq. The government has set up an evacuation team headed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief, Widodo AS, backed up by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration. Jacob said the government is ready to bring the workers back to Indonesia and has already provided funding for the evacuation. The government will do anything to save the people, he said. Each month, Indonesia sends about 25,000 workers to Middle East countries, with some 15,000 going to Saudi Arabia. (Retno Sulistyowati Tempo News Room)