Chinese become Indonesian citizens<\/p>\n
LAHAT, South Sumatra: A total of 91 people of Chinese descent
\nhave been naturalized and became Indonesian citizens recently,
\nAntara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Chinese took their oaths in a ceremony on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"They can change their names to Indonesian names now,\" the
\nchief of the Lahat District Court, R. Joedijono, said.<\/p>\n
The group was among the 76,000 stateless people of Chinese
\ndescent who have applied for Indonesian citizenship since free
\nnaturalization services were introduced nationwide last December.<\/p>\n
The service was introduced in line with a recently issued
\npresidential decree on naturalization, which offers Indonesian
\ncitizenship to people of Chinese descent who lost their
\ncitizenship when Indonesia cut diplomatic ties with China in
\n1969.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs' records, there are
\ncurrently about 208,000 stateless people of Chinese descent
\nliving in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
People of Chinese descent used to have to pay between Rp
\n350,000 ($153) and Rp 1 million for naturalization. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-become-indonesian-citizens-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}