Foreign husbands and human rights<\/p>\n
The letter from Hario Subayu (The Jakarta Post of March 11,
\n1995) was a precise, prompt and respectful answer to the three
\ngentlemen regarding visas, work permits and human rights.<\/p>\n
The trio of Kevin J. Dunphy (Feb.28, 1995), George Goring
\n(March 2, 1995) and Ulrich O. Zimmer (March 10,1995) should
\nunderstand that the Indonesian laws, rules and regulations that
\nare applied to entry, work permits, residency and citizenship are
\nno more complicated , strict or harsh than those applied by many
\nother countries in the world.<\/p>\n
Dunphy states that he left New York on the advice of one
\nperson to get married in Indonesia. It is obvious here that
\nanybody who can take such a big step without thoroughly checking
\nthe facts in detail will suffer some disappointment. I have no
\nsympathy for him.<\/p>\n
Goring then gave us a childish rhyme about illegitimate
\nchildren. To say that his poetry was distasteful would be an
\nunderstatement. However, his basic facts were correct.<\/p>\n
Zimmer's unsubstantiated, snide remark about a current member
\nof cabinet, even though an example, were scandalous. Zimmer
\nshould be sufficiently experienced with the Indonesian way of
\nlife, after nine years in this country, to know that it is
\nconsidered indecent to throw abuse at government officials, with
\nwords such as "ignorance," "technocratism," "narrowness" and "an
\nabsolute disgrace for Indonesia", especially when he is guest in
\nthis country.<\/p>\n
Zimmer seems to think that, together with Dunphy and Goring,
\nthey should be treated as "special" and not "ordinary" foreigners
\nbecause they have sired children with Indonesian wives. The local
\nmale population is quite capable of taking care of the population
\nboom themselves.<\/p>\n
If Zimmer is sincere and serious about being, in his words,
\n"one of those unfortunate foreigners who are no more orang asing
\n(foreigner) here than in their country of origin and have no
\nplace to go," then he is entitled for Indonesian citizenship, or
\nat least he is entitled to apply.<\/p>\n
My advice to Zimmer is as follows. After your KIM\/S, and the
\nrequired residency period, apply for your KIM\/T as it is commonly
\nknown. The "T" stands for tetap (permanent). Unless you work for
\na company with money to burn, the cost of this will leave a
\nsizable hole in your bank account, so you must be sincere. Your
\napplication for citizenship, I believe, will be treated fairly
\nand the fact that you have been legally married to an Indonesian
\ncitizen for the past 18 years and have children born in Indonesia
\nwill certainly be in your favor.<\/p>\n
Then you must renounce or give up any other citizenship that
\nyou currently hold because, as an Indonesian citizen and under
\nIndonesian law you cannot be a dual national.<\/p>\n
If you are an Australian citizen, as is the case with George
\nGoring and his children the revocation and cancellation of
\nAustralian citizenship will be done automatically by the
\nAustralian Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic
\nAffairs on the date of obtaining Indonesian citizenship for both
\nthe parent and the children.<\/p>\n
You would then become subject to the rules and regulations
\ngoverning foreigners in your own country, should you wish to
\nvisit or stay.<\/p>\n
So, Zimmer, if you do decide to take this very important step,
\nI for one, sincerely hope that you do not write any letters of
\ncomplaint concerning your rights as an Indonesian citizen.<\/p>\n
Having had the best of both worlds your case would be closed.<\/p>\n
ROY A. HURST<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-husbands-and-human-rights-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }