The Jakarta Post, March 15, 2003
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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