Qatar Gulf Rift: KBRI Forms Protection Task Force for Indonesians
8 June 2017 21:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stated that the government has taken several steps in responding to the current rift in Qatar Gulf. The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI), among others, has formed a task force to protect Indonesian citizens.
“The Indonesian Embassy has recently formed a special task force to protect Indonesian citizens who stay in Qatar,” said Minister Retno on Thursday, June 8.
Read: Indonesia Hopes Qatar Crisis would be Settled Peacefully Kalla
The government’s proactive attempt is to ensure that the Indonesian citizens in Qatar would be protected even though the Qatar Gulf rift has not or will not escalate.
Minister Retno estimated that there are around 29,000 Indonesians in Qatar.
“Some predict that there are 43,000 Indonesians in Qatar. [But] based on the listed people, there are 29,000. We decided to rely on the latter data,” she said.
Qatar is currently facing a diplomatic crisis after the country was banished by other Middle Eastern states, namely Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirate. Qatar is accused of supporting activities that endorse terrorism.
The Qatar Gulf rift disrupted a number of transportation services going in and out of the country.
ISTMAN M.P.
