Indonesia to change visa requirements for Iranians entering the country

ABC - Indonesia has agreed to a request from Kevin Rudd to make it harder for people from Iran to enter the country in order to travel to Australia by boat.

Indonesian justice minister Amir Syamsuddin has signed a letter - in effect a ministerial decree - that will stop Iranians being able to obtain a visa on arrival when they fly to Indonesia.

The move could slow the flow of people on their way to seeking asylum in Australia.

The PM is expected to announce his revamped asylum seeker policy as soon as today, and there is growing speculation it will involve re-settling refugees in Papua New Guinea, not just processing them there.
Key points

Indonesian minister signs decree that stops Iranians obtaining visa on arrival.
Currently, Iranians can obtain 30-day visas in Indonesia for $25.
The decree follows a request from PM Kevin Rudd during recent talks on asylum seekers.
Figures show that 12pc of refugees registered with UN in Indonesia were Iranian.

Mr Syamsuddin has confirmed the visa changes were made following a request from Mr Rudd last week.

AM understands officials from the Department of Immigration have been in Tehran negotiating for the Government there to take back asylum seekers.

Currently Iran does not accept involuntary returns.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister has confirmed that Mr Rudd specifically raised concern about the arrangements for visas on arrival in Indonesia during his discussions with president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

She says any action to tighten the arrangements is welcome.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has welcomed the move, saying it will be a significant blow for people smugglers.

Senator Carr has said a large number of asylum seekers arriving in Australia, particularly those from Iran, are "economic migrants" rather than genuine refugees.

"One of the things that people smugglers have been doing has been to collect Iranians who fly out of Tehran, land in Jakarta and pay what's said to be $25 for a visa," he said.

"The fact that this practice is going to be curbed means the economic basis, the legal basis for people smuggling is dealt a serious blow."

It is not yet known when the restriction on Iranians will take effect.

Indonesia is a transit destination for people on their way to Australia to seek asylum, with thousands taking the risky boat ride.

At the end of June, 12 per cent of people registered with the UN's refugee agency in Indonesia were from Iran.
Rudd wants closer look at visa rules across the region

Earlier this month Mr Yudhoyono and Mr Rudd announced a regional conference to discuss people smuggling.

At a later address to the National Press Club, Mr Rudd said one of the advantages to be achieved through such a conference was to examine regional visa regimes.

"That is, visas and regimes which allow too easy access to various countries in the region," he said.

The Prime Minister's new strategy will be three-fold, with action at a national, regional and global level.

Mr Rudd has said he wants to tighten refugee processing laws and has flagged that he may seek changes to the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention.

He recently held meetings with the leaders of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia to discuss greater cooperation.

PNG is looking to speed up the process for constructing a permanent regional processing centre at Manus Island.

AM has been been told that Mr Rudd's package is likely to include a deal with PNG to expand its detention capacity, particularly on Manus Island.

On Wednesday night the Australian Navy rescued another 120 asylum seekers after their boat got into trouble near Christmas Island.

Just a day earlier four people drowned when their boat capsized in rough seas.

An international policy expert says Mr Rudd's chances of changing the refugee convention are slim to none.

Professor William Maley, director of the Asia Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University, says Mr Rudd has very limited scope to change the text of the document.