Mixed marriages

Mixed marriages

Thank you for raising the debate on the legal position of
mixed marriages. I hope that, on this occasion, rather than
railing at the apparent injustices and double standards imposed
on multiracial couples - an approach not only naive but also
pointless in that it has, so far, fallen on deaf ears - we might
perhaps look for a more practical solution.

An alternative direction might be to first attempt to
understand why non-Indonesian women can gain residence after
marrying Indonesian nationals, whereas this option is not
currently open to non-Indonesian men.

In so doing, we might be able to get to the root of the
apparently illogical problem and perhaps address the reservations
that the decision-makers have about us.

A recent survey in Tempo regarding the public's opinion on
interethnic marriages may give some clues. A large percentage of
respondents objected to mixed marriages between ethnic Chinese
Indonesians and indigenous Indonesians.

Although, no figures exist as yet on interracial unions here,
I would expect that if this is the case for the group mentioned,
it would likely be doubly true for marriages which are not only
interethnic but also interracial.

If we look at issues in relation to the culture, which is
patriarchal in nature, the double standard becomes easier to
understand. In societies such as these the position, status and
rights of women are inevitably secondary. A man will not be
questioned unduly for taking a foreign wife. In sharp contrast, a
woman marrying outside her race is ostracized.

This may perhaps be because the signal she is sending to men
from within her own race is not one that pleases them.

If we add the historical context to this issue, it is apparent
that foreigners might be viewed as a threat and therefore
undesirable. Indonesia has suffered in the past at the hands of
foreign men who were often less than kind. It is therefore
understandable that we are perhaps unfairly viewed with a certain
antipathy.

It would seem our case is hopeless unless we can convince the
decision-makers that, rather than being a barely tolerated
necessary evil, we are able to actively contribute to the
development of the country and that the advantages of having us
here far outweigh the disadvantages. I welcome any constructive
ideas on this.

ROSS GULLIVER

Jakarta