Padang, W Sumatra, Sept. 29 -- Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration is strengthening data verification for 12,204 foreign refugees by recording photographs, biometric data, addresses and requiring regular reports on their whereabouts.

Eka Satriawan, head of the Illegal Immigrant and Refugee Handling Coordination Team, said the measures would enable authorities to monitor refugees' presence and movements more accurately.

"Through interagency coordination, we can regularly update information on foreign refugees. This is important so changes in their whereabouts or movements are properly recorded," he said during the establishment and inauguration of the Padang Forum for Detention and Refugee Handling ( Forkopdensi ) on Monday. ...