Mixed marriages
Back in the late 1970s there was an attempted invasion of Oregon by people tired of the southern end of the West Coast of the United States. Oregon, not wanting an invasion, firmly let people know that they were very welcome to come and visit, but not welcome to "settle in." People jumped up and down and made a huge fuss about rights and such, but they got the message that Oregon was serious. People understood the rules and few, if any, potential "settlers" were able to make a go of it in Oregon -- so they left.
Singapore lets you immigrate or become a citizen only after very strict guidelines. Australia puts you through a series of "stages," and all have to be passed to be considered for immigrant status.
The problems of marriage between foreigners and Indonesians, not to mention those faced by the children, seem to me to be completely avoidable. When people are starry-eyed and madly in love, it is unusual for them to ask such relevant questions as: "What is the tax rate for a non-Indonesian spouse?" "If my husband dies, how long will I have before I have to leave the country?" "If I should want to become an Indonesian citizen, how soon after the marriage should I state my intention?" "Oh, yes -- and what if I don't have a sponsor, but my little ones are Indonesian, and all I have to live on is my dead husband's pension?"
It seems that marrying a bule (foreigner) is a losing proposition all the way around. An Indonesian woman cannot sponsor her husband. She gives birth to foreigners who cannot remain in the country as citizens unless they are naturalized.
An Indonesian man can sponsor his wife. She gives birth to Indonesian citizens whom she may not be able to stay with if she doesn't have a sponsor. The whole thing is crazy. Kids getting deported -- mothers and fathers getting separated from their children.
The immigration office has publicly stated that this is not an immigrant country. I would agree that the last thing that Indonesia needs is more people. The problem is that this stance does not seem to be very well publicized -- and even if one has the presence of mind to ask a zillion questions about the ramifications of marrying an Indonesian, the Indonesian citizen him/herself doesn't seem to be very clear on just what the story is.
MORGAN CHAMBERLIN
Jakarta