VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Office in Bali Province barred 89 foreign nationals from entering the resort island as of Thursday as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.

"As of this morning, 89 foreign nationals were denied entry into Bali. They came from various countries. However, I have yet to receive the exact number of applications for extended emergency stay permits until now, but the number is roughly more than 300," Chief of the Bali Provincial Office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry Sutrisno stated on Thursday.

The extended emergency stay permits are valid for a month after which the applicants must return to their country. If within that period of time, they have not returned home, they will be given extension facility, he noted.

"To be certain, the emergency extension is free of charge. Since the facility is emergency, it is exempt from charge. The Chinese consulate has been here, so it will be responsible for Chinese citizens here to obtain other facility, if the need arises," he remarked.

He explained that if the Chinese tourists had overstayed their extended emergency permits but were facing financial difficulties and were in need of other facility, the Chinese consulate general in Denpasar will directly handle them.

"The consulate must be responsible for the Chinese citizens in the same way as our consulates abroad do," he noted.

The decision to bar entry to 89 foreign nationals and extend stay permits is based on Law and Human Rights Minister’s Regulation No. 3 of 2020 on suspending visa-free and visa-on-arrival for Chinese citizens, he remarked.

The 89 foreign nationals comprised 12 each from Russia and the United States; eight from Ukraine; seven from Kazakhstan; six from Canada; four each from Brazil and Kyrgyzstan; three each from Armenia, New Zealand, and Britain; two each from Morocco, Australia, Brazil, and Spain; while one each from Romania, China, Tajikistan, Ghana, Moldova, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Germany, Austria, Egypt, Italy, France, Thailand, Britain, India, Turkey, Peru, Chile, and Sweden. (ANTARA)