Foreigners tax a burden<\/p>\n
I, a German national, have been married to my Indonesian
\nhusband for more than 33 years. After finishing his studies in
\nEurope, my husband was asked to return to Indonesia at the end of
\n1972 in order to work with the Suara Karya daily and Progres
\nmagazine. Both publications had just recently been established
\nand, according to my husband's friends at the Center for
\nStrategic and International Studies, they urgently needed an
\nexpert in his field. My husband, as a loyal Indonesian, decided
\nto come home.<\/p>\n
Since January 1973 our family has lived in Jakarta. In that
\ntime I have encountered a number of strange (to say the least)
\nnew regulations regarding immigration, registration and now the
\nforeigners tax.<\/p>\n
For 24 years I was taxed as the head of the family and had to
\npay Rp 90,000 per year, even though I do not possess a work
\npermit and am not allowed to earn money. We have been living on
\nmy husband's pension (with no monthly allowance whatsoever) since
\nAugust 1992 and in September 1992 my husband suffered several
\nsevere strokes. He is now paralyzed and unable to speak. Our
\nthree children help keep us alive.<\/p>\n
I most humbly ask the authorities to reconsider increasing the
\nforeigners tax or to exempt non-working foreign spouses of
\nIndonesian citizens from having to follow this latest regulation.<\/p>\n
ANNEGRET HANDOJOSOEMARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreigners-tax-a-burden-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }