Straight from the middle ages

Straight from the middle ages

Recently there have been a lot of discussions about the
citizenship bill and the "deposit" for Indonesian women who want
to marry foreigners.

Please don't let any reactionary forces implement rules that
are similar to many in the middle ages. Indonesia is a modern,
pluralist and democratic society, and this should be further
boosted and strengthened.

I don't think that a more liberal handling of mixed marriages
would make people less loyal to their country. What makes people
less loyal and angry is the fact that they have to deal with
corrupt immigration officers when it comes to arranging stay
permits for their children.

I think a good way out would be to review the regulations of
the countries where the spouses of Indonesian citizens come from.
Germany, for examples, grants residency and a work permit for
three years initially for an Indonesian woman married to a
German. If that "test" is passed and the marriage is proven
to be "real" this is extended for another five years, after which
permanent residency is granted and the woman may even get
citizenship.

I suggest that there be reciprocal arrangements, e.g. what
applies for Indonesians in country "X" will apply for citizens
of country "X" in Indonesia.

After all, 99 percent of expatriates marry Indonesian women
for love of both them and the Indonesian culture.
That's why they are asking for the right to live and raise their
children in Indonesia. Why should they be mistreated because of a
few foreigners (drug dealers, terrorists, criminals in general)
who still manage to come to Indonesia and stay without being
detected). Is that not a strange situation?

MELINDA TAN, Jakarta