Jakarta – Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra on Tuesday defended a much-criticised decree forcing more tourists to obtain visas, saying the policy was vital to protect internal security.

The decision to abolish visa-free entry for short visits for citizens of 38 countries was based on "considerations on internal security aspects," Yusril said.

"We have found some cases which involved political activities that support the separatist movement in Indonesia," the minister was quoted as saying by AFP.

A British academic and an American nurse who visited a separatist rebel base in Aceh province were jailed last December for violating their tourist visas.

Indonesia now intends to offer visa-free visits to people from just 11 countries or territories – those which offer Indonesians similar facilities. They are Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Turkey, Peru, Chile and Morocco.

"Of course we need tourists to come to this country but we need them to pay to come to this country as well," Yusril said.

He noted that Australia and the US impose visa fees. "Australia and the US are rich countries. Why do they have to make money from a poor country like us?" Yusril said people who had lost the visa-free privilege would either have to apply for one at an Indonesian embassy or buy one upon arrival. The government would discuss implementation of the policy among related ministries, Yusril said, adding that the projected visa fee was between 40-45 dollars.

The policy would not apply to planned package tours and international conference delegates for the next six months.