The rights of citizens

The rights of citizens

From Media Indonesia

A few day ago I saw our President, Ibu Megawati, on TV and heard her saying seriously that there were Indonesian people, who, despite the fact they lived and earned their livings here, always talked ill about their own country abroad. She then suggested that these people, who are not proud of their country, find themselves another country to move to.

I was born in Indonesia, live and earn my living in Indonesia and I have never considered myself a citizen of another state because Indonesia is my homeland. I was once entrusted to become head of the neighborhood community in 1978-1993 in Kampung Bali sub-district, Tanah Abang Jakarta and named as the chief of the Polling Station Committee in the same district. However, during the New Order my family and I were deprived of our civil rights like other citizens in this republic. We could not have our religion, Confucianism, stated on our IDs.

Early this month, my son went to the Civil registry in Depok to have his marriage registered. The religion and the wedding ceremony, which was performed by a Confucian clergyman and according to Confucianism, was registered as Buddhism .

From the above experience, I am beginning to wonder how this country is treating her own citizens in this reform era.

TJANDRA R. MULJADI, Jakarta