Caltex?s expatriate workers leave for Singapore

At least 87 expatriates working for PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia have left Pekanbaru for Singapore amid the growing anti-American sentiment in the country but the Caltex management said that they are in the neighboring country for a holiday, Kompas reported on Friday.

The head of the immigration office in Pekanbaru, M. Mansur, said on Thursday that the expatriates mostly left Pekanbaru since the United States and Britain began their attack on Iraq two weeks ago.

According to him, the expatriates had been given reentry permits that would be valid for between three and six months so that they could reenter Indonesia even without new visas. "Besides Caltex?s foreign workers, expatriates working in other foreign companies such as PT Indah Kiat and PT Riaupulp," he said.

Caltex?s team manager for communications and media relations, Hanafi Kadir, denied if there was foreign workers? exodus from Caltex. "Many foreign workers at Caltex still work as usual because there is no reason for them to go overseas," he was quoted as saying.

The anti-American sentiment is growing in major cities in the country as protests against the U.S.- led attack against Iraq continues. Although the government has strongly warned the people not to do harm on foreign residents and their assets, many expatriates are still worried about their security.

"Many foreign workers at Caltex still work as usual because there is no reason for them to go overseas," he was quoted as saying.

Hanafi said that the foreign workers? overseas trips coincided with the spring break at American schools. "Informal education activities such as courses carried out by the company have been also closed for a spring holiday from March 20 to March 28," he said. (*)