Tan Joe Hok's citizenship saga

I would like to comment on the articles: RI to protest to U.S. over profiling policy and U.S. says its immigration policy fair published in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2003, respectively.

As an Indonesian, I am sad, angry and humiliated! However, pondering more deeply on the issue, I fully realize that it is the inalienable right of the U.S. to do what it deems necessary to safeguard its own security.

And what about the situation here in Indonesian? For the past 30 years, I have been institutionally discriminated against by my own government. I must possess a Surat pernyataan melepaskan kewarganegaraan rakyat Tiongkok untuk tetap menjadi warga negara republik Indonesia (A statement asserting that I have dropped my Chinese citizenship in order to remain a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia). I had to adopt an Indonesian name in order to reside in Jakarta and possess a K1 Certificate. My two children must also possess a Surat bukti Kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia (a Certificate of Indonesian citizenship, or SBKRI).

These documents must be presented to government officials to obtain a passport, to be admitted to a public school or university, to obtain a business permit and for various other purposes. On top of all this, an official Indonesian government institution, the Badan Koordinasi Masalah Cina (Coordinating Agency for Chinese Affairs, or BKMC), closely watches the ethnic Chinese community.

I remember vividly how my badminton teammate and I were awarded the Bintang Satya Lencana Kebudayaan and the Bintang Jasa Republik Indonesia (Indonesian medals of honor). I shed tears of joy.

I remember vividly how I queued at the Kantor Urusan Penduduk DKI (Jakarta Office of Demographic Affairs, or KUP), with other Indonesians of Chinese descent to obtain my K1 certificate.

I remember vividly how I brought my children from court to court to obtain their SBKRIs. Tears rolled down my cheeks because I was humiliated by my own government.

If I were to travel to the United States of America and had to register myself at a U.S. immigration office, I would hold my head up high and tell the officers that I am not a terrorist, but a law abiding Indonesian national.

I appeal to all those whom it may concern to immediately abolish discriminatory laws affecting the ethnic Chinese community in particular and oppressed people in general.

TAN JOE HOK, Jakarta