Tan Joe Hok's citizenship saga<\/p>\n
I would like to comment on the articles: RI to protest to U.S.
\nover profiling policy and U.S. says its immigration policy fair
\npublished in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2003,
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
As an Indonesian, I am sad, angry and humiliated! However,
\npondering more deeply on the issue, I fully realize that it is
\nthe inalienable right of the U.S. to do what it deems necessary
\nto safeguard its own security.<\/p>\n
And what about the situation here in Indonesian? For the past
\n30 years, I have been institutionally discriminated against by my
\nown government. I must possess a Surat pernyataan melepaskan
\nkewarganegaraan rakyat Tiongkok untuk tetap menjadi warga negara
\nrepublik Indonesia (A statement asserting that I have dropped my
\nChinese citizenship in order to remain a citizen of the Republic
\nof Indonesia). I had to adopt an Indonesian name in order to
\nreside in Jakarta and possess a K1 Certificate. My two children
\nmust also possess a Surat bukti Kewarganegaraan Republik
\nIndonesia (a Certificate of Indonesian citizenship, or SBKRI).<\/p>\n
These documents must be presented to government officials to
\nobtain a passport, to be admitted to a public school or
\nuniversity, to obtain a business permit and for various other
\npurposes. On top of all this, an official Indonesian government
\ninstitution, the Badan Koordinasi Masalah Cina (Coordinating
\nAgency for Chinese Affairs, or BKMC), closely watches the ethnic
\nChinese community.<\/p>\n
I remember vividly how my badminton teammate and I were
\nawarded the Bintang Satya Lencana Kebudayaan and the Bintang Jasa
\nRepublik Indonesia (Indonesian medals of honor). I shed tears of
\njoy.<\/p>\n
I remember vividly how I queued at the Kantor Urusan Penduduk
\nDKI (Jakarta Office of Demographic Affairs, or KUP), with other
\nIndonesians of Chinese descent to obtain my K1 certificate.<\/p>\n
I remember vividly how I brought my children from court to
\ncourt to obtain their SBKRIs. Tears rolled down my cheeks because
\nI was humiliated by my own government.<\/p>\n
If I were to travel to the United States of America and had to
\nregister myself at a U.S. immigration office, I would hold my
\nhead up high and tell the officers that I am not a terrorist, but
\na law abiding Indonesian national.<\/p>\n
I appeal to all those whom it may concern to immediately
\nabolish discriminatory laws affecting the ethnic Chinese
\ncommunity in particular and oppressed people in general.<\/p>\n
TAN JOE HOK, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tan-joe-hoks-citizenship-saga-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }