Foreign residents

Foreign residents

Guess what? There is justice for foreign residents in
Indonesia! However, it is one of the best-kept secrets around. I
wonder why? The usual speeches we get once we move in or start
working are enough to make your hair fall out. Contracts here
mean nothing. There is no end to the dangers you are subject to
from immigration. Foreign residents have no rights, no recourse,
no hope of getting a fair shake. You must steel yourself to being
victimized: Complaining will only result in your being put in
irons and deported. Pucky.

The really bizarre thing is that most of these horror stories
are disseminated by foreign residents who "heard a friend say
that a friend of a friend who had a friend once..." When you
decide to contest unfair treatment, the stories only get worse.
Justice costs money. Sometimes you don't win. True, in some
cases, but not true in others.

But, hey -- this is also true in the States. A case in point.
Two foreign men married to Indonesian women, with babies caught
in the citizenship trap. Both faced with deportation. When the
first coupled appealed to immigration, the officer laughed
heartily and said, "No way are we going to agree to deport you.
Not with a three-month-old baby!" He stayed. The baby stayed. And
it didn't cost a penny.

The second was forced to exit. His problem, however, had to do
with his employer's delay in the handling of his papers. So both
he and his baby were "illegal". A woman is fired from her job and
told she will be deported within a week. Immigration says:
"Excuse me -- but we decide who stays and who goes -- not the
employer." A woman is told that foreign workers are not entitled
to maternity leave. Depnaker grins and says, "I beg your pardon?"
She got her maternity leave.

A company attempts to demote staff on a long-term contract.
Depnaker says, "No, sorry. You can't do that." Staff is retained
on the original contract. So, what's the deal? For every
"success" story, there is probably a "disaster" one to match. The
point is that we should not blindly believe third, fourth or even
fifth party reports. Even what we see in the newspapers should be
taken with a grain of salt, because we are not made privy to all
the factors involved.

If we, as foreign residents, wholeheartedly swallow
"information" that we are powerless here, we deserve whatever
happens to us. If we are within the parameters established by law
in Indonesia -- (whether we like them or not) -- we do have
recourse, and we can expect to be treated fairly. I won't lie to
you -- the experience is somewhat like willingly jumping into
quicksand, all the while holding on to the firm belief that you
will be rescued. Not pleasant. But, I'll tell you what -- it is
worth it.

MORGAN CHAMBERLIN

Jakarta