RI also prohibits the entry of foreigners during Coronavirus

Jakarta –

Several countries prohibit Indonesian citizens from entering their country. The Deputy Foreign Minister (Wamenlu), Mahendra Siregar, reminded Indonesia to also ban the arrival of foreign nationals (WNA) during the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“For the number of countries (that ban Indonesian citizens), frankly, I don’t count them one by one,” Mahendra said at MPR / DPR RI, Senayan, Jakarta on Wednesday (9/9/2020). Mahendra answered the question of how many countries have banned Indonesian citizens from entering their territory.

Mahendra believes that barring Indonesian citizens from entering foreign countries is reasonable during the COVID-19 pandemic. She recalled that Indonesia has also done the same with foreign nationals (WNA) who wish to enter Indonesia.

“But I answer in the context that the condition is natural because Indonesia itself also prohibits all foreign nationals from entering Indonesia. It is not limited to any one country,” Mahendra said.

Mahendra also emphasized that the policy to ban foreigners from entering Indonesia has been in place from April until now. She reiterated that it was normal for all countries to do this, especially during the Corona pandemic.

“We will apply it from April and until now it remains in force. So, if other countries apply the same, first I do not count one by one. Second, I consider it reasonable because Indonesia also applies the same in this pandemic condition and there is no . something special AHA“Mahendra explained.

Director of PWNI and BHI Kemlu, Judha Nugraha (Rahel / detikcom)

At the same place, the Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens (PWNI) and Indonesian Legal Entities (BHI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, said that the policy of a country that prohibits the entry of other citizens it is not specifically directed at Indonesia. During this pandemic, according to her, several countries were implementing their respective policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“The policy (which prohibits Indonesian citizens from entering a country) is basically implemented to prohibit foreigners from entering their national territory. Therefore, it is not specifically directed at Indonesia,” Judha said.

“Now in this context we understand that the level of spread of COVID-19 in the world is currently more than 2.7 million, so each country implements policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he added.

As is known, the Malaysian government has banned Indonesian citizens (WNI) from entering its territory to prevent transmission of the Corona virus. Previously, there were four other countries that prohibited entry to Indonesian citizens, namely Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia and Brunei Darussalam.

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(hel / elz)