Government to Evacuate Indonesian Workers if US Attacks Iraq

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian government will stop sending workers to countries near Iraq, such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, if the United States attacks Iraq. If necessary, the government will evacuate them to nearby countries that are more secure. Directorate General of Training and Sending Workers Abroad at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, I Gusti Made Arka, made this announcement in Jakarta on Friday (10/1). He went on to say that the government has made preparations to evacuate Indonesian citizens that are staying in countries near Iraq. The government is worried that a US attack will have an impact on nearby countries. According to Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration data, the number of Indonesian workers in Middle East countries and Africa increased rapidly up to November 2002. These countries employed 232,614 Indonesian workers, an increase 91.96 percent compared to the previous years figure of 121,180. Most of the workers are in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Cyprus, and Yemen. In Saudi Arabia, there are 206,036 Indonesian workers an increases of 99.58 percent compared to the previous years total of 103,235. Indonesia has formed a team to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Iraq and nearby countries. The team consists of Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, and Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea. The team has held several meetings to discuss required measures to evacuate people. (Retno Sulistyowati --- Tempo News Room)