In The US Presidential Election, Indonesian Citizens Are Asked To Stay At Home To Avoid Riots And Covid-19 Transmission

President Donald Trump (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian citizens living in several states of the United States (US) are advised to stay at home and avoid crowds during the US presidential election.

The appeal was issued to prevent transmission of COVID-19 and to avoid the possibility of riots if there was a demonstration.

The appeal was made by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) New York for Indonesian citizens who live in their working areas, namely the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampsire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania. , Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Through a circular dated November 1, 2020, New York time, the Indonesian Consulate General made five appeals for hundreds of thousands of Indonesian citizens living in these 15 states.

"Citizens of the Indonesian public are urged to as far as possible avoid crowds of people or other vulnerable places that are considered to be potential locations for demonstrations or riots," said the Indonesian Consulate General in New York in a circular received in Jakarta Monday night, November 2.

Despite the potential for riots, the Indonesian Consulate General asked the Indonesian people to respond to all situations calmly and with full vigilance during the presidential election. Indonesian citizens are also asked to remain at home during the presidential election.

"Indonesian citizens are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible if there are no urgent matters / interests," said the circular.

If there is an urgent need that requires residents to leave the house, the Indonesian Consulate asks Indonesian citizens to apply health protocols, such as wearing masks and maintaining distance, to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

In order to know the development of the situation during the presidential election, the Indonesian Consulate General in New York also asked the Indonesian public in the US to follow information from the official media and calls from related institutions, particularly regarding the security situation in the US.

Finally, the Indonesian Consulate General in New York launched a hotline that could be contacted if Indonesian citizens needed assistance in facing an emergency situation.

"Indonesian citizens who need assistance from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia New York can contact the KJRI New York hotline: [phone]."

According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' self-report as of June 2020, the number of Indonesian citizens in the US has reached more than 142,000.