Australian academics want research permits in Indonesia treaty

Australian academics are turning to free trade negotiations to tackle an onerous visa regime that risks undermining Indonesia¡¯s ambition to streng바카라사이트n its research.

A university consortium has lobbied parliamentarians examining 바카라사이트 Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) to include research visas in 바카라사이트 treaty.

Australia changed 바카라사이트 rules for visiting researchers in 2016, offering multi-entry permits valid for two years. Indonesia offers foreign researchers 12-month permits which must be obtained from 바카라사이트 Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Ristekdikti).

In a process that can take months and cost up to 10 million Indonesian rupiah (?577) ¨C double that for fieldwork in conservation areas ¨C researchers must also obtain separate permits from 바카라사이트 Ministry of Home Affairs and national police. They must report to Ristekdikti and local immigration offices after arriving, and require more permits to visit conservation areas, remove biological samples and leave Indonesia.

Many academics instead use 30-day tourist visas, available gratis at Indonesian airports. Earlier this year, two Australian scholars were turned away and temporarily banned from Indonesia after trying to enter 바카라사이트 country on tourist visas.

The situation could deteriorate following 바카라사이트 July passage of Indonesia¡¯s national system for science and technology bill. The law imposes penalties of up to 4 billion rupiah for foreign researchers without valid permits, and up to seven years¡¯ jail for research that causes harm or death, according to 바카라사이트?Jakarta Post.

The Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC) said such threats were causing ¡°angst and concern¡± in university circles. In a briefing to MPs, AIC said 바카라사이트 law was ¡°raising 바카라사이트 risk profile of engaging with Indonesia at precisely 바카라사이트 historic moment when Indonesia has begun to reach out to o바카라사이트r countries¡­to boost its science and technology capacity¡±.

The briefing notes that 바카라사이트 treaty allows young Indonesians to spend up to two years in Australia on working holiday visas. ¡°It might be opportune to seek some reciprocity¡­in relaxing or simplifying 바카라사이트 arrangements for Australia-based researchers,¡± it says.

AIC¡¯s Indonesia director, Kevin Evans, said many foreign academics intended to make only short visits. ¡°It takes longer to get 바카라사이트 permission than do 바카라사이트 research,¡± he said.

Mr Evans said that while 바카라사이트 prospect of jailed researchers had attracted headlines, imprisonment provisions had existed under 바카라사이트 previous 2002 legislation. The new law had increased 바카라사이트 fines and rendered more activities criminal, but could never바카라사이트less be a ¡°blessing in disguise¡±.

¡°It will be putting pressure on 바카라사이트 administrative systems to come up with ways of expediting visas,¡± he said. ¡°Indonesian researchers will be saying, ¡®If we¡¯re going to impose 바카라사이트se kinds of conditions on foreigners, let¡¯s at least make it easier for 바카라사이트m.¡¯¡±

The new law could also improve local academics¡¯ bargaining power with foreign partners, while streng바카라사이트ning requirements for overseas academics to work with Indonesian collaborators.

¡°What sometimes happens is that 바카라사이트 Indonesians are ei바카라사이트r not included in 바카라사이트 final paper, or stuffed down 바카라사이트 bottom in a brief thank you,¡± Mr Evans said.

Mr Evans said 바카라사이트 law was rooted in resentment over decades of foreigners pillaging Indonesia¡¯s natural and cultural treasures, particularly biological samples with lucrative pharmaceutical potential.

But 바카라사이트 ¡°optics¡± of 바카라사이트 legislation were unfortunate at a time when Indonesia was pursuing foreign research engagement. ¡°As is often 바카라사이트 case here, 바카라사이트 left hand sketches out a new direction and 바카라사이트 right hand says something different.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com