REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia has proposed to the state members of Bali Process forum to adopt some emergency measures to address the migrant influx in the region, based on last year's case in Andaman Sea, a senior official has said.

"After experiencing a migrant influx last May, we want an operational mechanism for emergency cases," Foreign Affairs' Director General of Multilateral Cooperation, Hasan Kleib said on Thursday.

For instance, the forum could give authority to the co-chairs (Indonesia and Australia) to hold an emergency meeting to discuss a solution for the issues, Hasan noted.

"Australia has agreed to this proposal, but we still have to bring them to the forum," he said.

Indonesia and Australia will co-chair the sixth Bali Process in Nusa Dua Bali on March 22 and 23.

The meeting will be attended by 45 countries, 18 countries and 10 international agencies.

Since its inception in 2002, the "Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime" (Bali Process) has effectively raised regional awareness about the consequences of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime, and developed and implemented strategies and practical cooperation in response.

The core objectives of the Bali Process are prevention, early detection, protection, and prosecution on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime.

Hasan said the Bali Process is unique because it will help raise the issues of origin, transit and destination countries at a forum for discussion about illegal migrants and other trans-border crimes, based on their share of responsibility and burden sharing.

"No country can solve this problem alone," he noted.

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