DENPASAR ~

Denpasar National and Political Unity Office (Kesbangpol) conducted an inspection to foreign citizens by involving the Immigration Office of Denpasar, the military and police.

“We have tried to call through local village officials, but many of them unwilling to report themselves on living in the local environment. Therefore, we go down together with a joint team,” the leader of the team Ida Bagus Andika Putra from Kesbangpol Denpasar said.

Ida Bagus Andika Putra said that they found difficulties to conduct the inspection to foreigners who live in the villa, in Sanur Kauh village, because the foreigners lock their residence gate.

He said that a routine inspection is carried out in four districts in Denpasar.

“This time we are targeting foreigners who reside in the tourist area of Sanur, involving a joint team from Denpasar Immigration Office to assess and determine the existence and improve the discipline in the administration of foreigners during their stay in Denpasar,” he said.

Andika Putra expected village officials to do data collection and coordination and communication with Kesbangpol and will be able to follow up the presence of foreigners in their respective rural areas.

“Although they are tourists, but foreigners who stay more than 1 day in an area (villa) must report to village authorities, so they are not considered as illegal residents,” he said.

On the inspection, the joint team found foreigners from US and Netherland who are not yet report their settlement to the village official but only to Ngurah Rai Immigration office.

The team also found Australian woman who lived in Batur Sari, Sanur misusing tourist visa to open a beverages business.

In fact she has been doing it for three years and has hired 10 employees. On the abuse of the visa, officers directly hold her passport.

“We have to process the visa abuse. Later, further action will be conducted after knowing how long the business has run,” Hendra Sudarsa from Denpasar immigration office said.

Secretary of Sanur village chief I Gusti Ngurah Arya Widana claimed that several number of foreigner rent homes or villa in Sanur.

Arya Widana expected this inspection can provide insight to the foreigners, so they will be able to honor the presence of village officials to monitor the activity associated with their presence in the area of Sanur Village.

“We expect foreigners who live in Sanur should report to the village authorities. This is for their safety while in Bali. It is unlawful if they occupy a villa or house but they do not report to local authorities,” he said.