Comings and goings<\/p>\n
From Pikiran Rakyat<\/p>\n
An essential element in human rights is freedom of an
\nindividual to travel wherever he or she wishes. So in this
\nrepublic one would be free to travel from Sabang to Merauke, from
\nPacitan to Manado.<\/p>\n
The only self-identification needed should be a residential
\nidentification card (KTP). Requirement of a travel document to
\nenter Jakarta, the nation's capital, would be a real setback.
\nAfter all, travel documents are only necessary in a state of war.<\/p>\n
Likewise, to travel abroad one should only need a passport
\nand, if required by the destination country, a visa. Trips up to
\none month in length within ASEAN countries should be visa-free.<\/p>\n
It is indeed surprising that our country requires its citizens
\nto pay a fiscal tax of Rp 250,000 for air passengers, and Rp
\n100,000 for sea passengers for a trip abroad.<\/p>\n
Just ask foreign tourists, including those from ASEAN
\ncountries, if they have to pay a fiscal fee if they leave their
\nrespective countries. The answer is in the negative, as they only
\npay an airport or seaport tax.<\/p>\n
This fiscal regulation leaves one wondering whether traveling
\noverseas is considered the exclusive privilege of business people
\nand the wealthy. What about the less privileged who wish to visit
\nfriends and relatives who live abroad? Or the man who has saved
\nmoney for years to travel to a neighboring country to broaden his
\nmind, or simply to see how people live in another country?<\/p>\n
Whatever the justification of it may be, the collection of
\nthis fiscal tax has reduced people's right to travel freely. They
\nhave, albeit due to economic reasons, been prevented from
\ntraveling abroad, even though an actual ban on overseas travel is
\nonly implemented when requested by relevant government agencies
\nwith respect to criminals and those involved in political
\nmatters.<\/p>\n
It is therefore only fitting to propose the scrapping of this
\nfiscal imposition, in force for many years. What does the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights and the Indonesian
\nAssociation of Lawyers have to say about this?<\/p>\n
Remember that prior to 1992, the year marking 47 years of
\nnational independence, Indonesians had to apply for an exit
\npermit before leaving their own country! This exit permit
\nregulation was a legacy of the Dutch colonial rule when it was
\ndesigned to prevent our patriots (labeled \"extremists\" at that
\ntime) from departing for a foreign country. Fortunately, we said
\ngoodbye to this regulation five years ago.<\/p>\n
SUGIANTO WIDJAJA<\/p>\n
Cianjur, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/comings-and-goings-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }