Foreigners and immigration rights

Foreigners and immigration rights

I just want to say a word on the subject of immigration and
the problems encountered by foreign spouses. I too had to smuggle
my child out of Indonesia, and my ex-husband reported him as
being kidnapped.

The consulate in the U.S. got in touch with me, and
fortunately, I had my son on an American passport, so my ex-
husband was unable to do anything. My ex-husband was
psychologically abusive and would send faxes to my son telling
him that he was "a son of the devil". He started seeing other
women in the my son's seventh month.

The courts were of no help to me. In spite of having our home
put in the court's jurisdiction in an attempt to divorce, he
ended up living in it with his new "wife" -- in spite of the fact
that he was still married to me -- he also had got Indonesian
citizenship for her! The police were called in and although I had
the support of my neighbors (I lived in Bintaro III) at the time,
everything went his way. He has never provided any support for my
son. I would dearly have loved to have stayed in Indonesia, but
it was easy to see that I would lose more than I was willing to
give up.

I respect Indonesia's right to do what it will with its
immigration rights, but if Indonesia does not want foreigners in
its country, or any intermarriage, the policy should have been
made clear long ago.

Foreign parents face incredible hurdles -- especially if one
is short of money -- and some concessions and changes need to
be made for those who are in this situation now.

MORGAN POLAND, Phoenix, Arizona