On marrying RI woman

I refer to the article Want to marry RI woman? Pay Rp 500m in deposit which appeared in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 10 on page 2.

I wonder who comes up with such sick ideas? The government should make it easier for mixed couples in Indonesia rather than selling Indonesian women.

It almost looks like the story of the immigrant workers, selling Indonesian labor. This "concept" will only cause Indonesian women to marry outside of Indonesia and turn their backs on their country, which considers them "un-people" anyway after they have married a foreigner.

They are harrased by staff in immigration and the so-called Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

Let's face it, Indonesia should remain an open and democratic society where the citizens have rights and obligations. Other countries grant Indonesian citizens labor and work permits if they are married to one of their citizens. Why can't Indonesia do that or at least have reciprocal agreements with those countries? I don't think dual citizenship is an issue really, but the right of mixed couples and their kids to stay together without problems in one of the spouse's countries.

In so far, the idea of the deposit and the way the new bill has been laid out and discussed is -- like so many government initiatives -- absolutely not related to reality.

MELINDA TAN Jakarta