Experts call on govt to adopt dual citizenship<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Karin Sukarya, the wife of an Indonesian diplomat who has been
\nliving here for decades, will never be able to pass on her
\nproperty inheritance to her children.<\/p>\n
Not because she can't afford it, but because she is a German
\ncitizen.<\/p>\n
"As a foreigner, I'm not allowed to own a single property
\nhere. So, there's no way for me to be able to pass on a house to
\nmy children unless I become an Indonesian," Karin told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Under Law No. 62\/1958 on citizenship, Karin is denied
\nIndonesian citizenship unless she gives up her German
\ncitizenship, as Indonesia only recognizes single citizenship.<\/p>\n
"I can't give up my citizenship because I get a pension and
\nother benefits from the German government. On the other hand, I
\nlove this country because all my family is here. Why should one
\nhave to choose if there is another option... dual citizenship?"
\nshe questioned.<\/p>\n
Responding to the case, professor of politics from the
\nUniversity of Indonesia Burhan D. Magenda called on the
\ngovernment to adopt dual citizenship by revising Law No. 62\/1958,
\nsaying the law was already outdated.<\/p>\n
"The law is 47 years old. It was passed during the cold war
\nwhen Indonesia feared that people with dual citizenship could
\npose threats to national security," he told a discussion on the
\nnew draft law on citizenship on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The draft is currently being deliberated in the House of
\nRepresentatives, which is expected pass it by the end of this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Burhan said the current law was approved by the parliament
\nbased on an agreement made by then Indonesian foreign minister
\nProf. Sunaryo and his Chinese counterpart Zhou En i (still be
\nchecked further) in order to deny dual citizenship to Indonesians
\nof Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
The concern came from Mao Zedong's statement in the 1950s,
\nthat all Chinese persons anywhere in the world had the right to
\nhold Chinese citizenship, he added.<\/p>\n
"But the cold war has ended. So, from the political point of
\nview, there's no harm in adopting dual citizenship now," said
\nBurhan, a former House member.<\/p>\n
A similar call was made by sociologist Paulus Wirutomo who
\nsaid the government should consider adopting dual citizenship
\nbecause the prevailing citizenship law has endangered the unity
\nof mixed families.<\/p>\n
As an example, he cited articles in the law that stipulate
\nthat children of mixed couples with husbands who are foreigners
\nare not Indonesians because the state recognizes the ius
\nsanguinis principle, meaning that the right of citizenship comes
\nfrom the fathers' line.<\/p>\n
"A mixed marriage should be considered with a positive
\nattitude. It shows the couple embraces universalism and
\nmulticulturalism because they have set aside the differences of
\nethnicity, race and sometimes religions. The law should
\nfacilitate the implementation of such values instead of
\ndiscouraging them," said Paulus, whose two children were forced
\nto give up their Indonesian citizenship in order to obtain
\nAmerican passports.<\/p>\n
He also said that revisions to the citizenship law should
\nensure the protection of citizens sociologically and
\npsychologically, apart from political considerations.<\/p>\n
"If the concern is national security, a strict citizenship law
\nis not the answer. Who can guarantee that those holding only
\nIndonesian citizenship are more loyal than those with dual
\ncitizenship?" he argued.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/experts-call-on-govt-to-adopt-dual-citizenship-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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