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