Japan Withdraws Its Citizens From Indonesia, Golkar Politician: It's Natural, We Have Also Been When India's Cases Soared

JAKARTA - Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives Christina Aryani considered it reasonable for the Japanese government to withdraw or evacuate its citizens from Indonesia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Because every country is obliged to protect and ensure the safety of its citizens.

"It's legal. This is a policy taken by other countries' governments to protect their citizens," Christina told reporters, Friday, July 16.

In fact, he continued, Indonesia had also done the same thing to Indonesian citizens who were in India when COVID-19 cases in the country soared.

"We have also (evacuated Indonesian citizens, ed) when COVID-19 cases in India soared," said the Golkar politician.

It is known, Japanese citizens are busy leaving Indonesia amid a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases to undergo vaccination in their home country.

The Japanese Embassy in Jakarta is also seeking additional flights to repatriate its citizens.

"The Japanese government together with the Japanese private sector will take action to anticipate the difficulties in getting flights experienced by Japanese citizens in Indonesia and as much as possible to protect the wishes of their citizens who want to return to Japan in the near future," said the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Thursday, July 15.