Why can't govt grant stay permits?
Why can't govt grant stay permits?
I refer to the letter from Mr. Martin Boothby titled Indonesia
and dual nationality (The Jakarta Post, July 5, 1999) discussing
the discriminatory treatment toward expatriates who marry
Indonesian women.
My husband and I needed to go through a system of trial and
error to find out about the immigration laws in Indonesia, and
we are still learning and paying on a regular basis (the legal
fees and the other costs). That is why we would like to ask
Minister of Justice Muladi why Indonesia, in this much-praised
era of globalization, is unable to deliver to my foreign husband
a stay permit? We do not want a mere sosial budaya visa which
must be renewed every month in Indonesia and every six months in
Singapore.
Minister Muladi, is that not a violation of the UN
antidiscrimination charter President Habibie signed a few months
ago? If yes, is there any current or future legislator or any
non-governmental organization seriously interested in bringing
this matter to the attention of relevant authorities to bring
about real change? My hope is that the next government, instead
of giving full visa facilities to foreign investors investing
more than US$1 million in Indonesia -- it seems that my country
is still only interested in the money of foreigners -- will give
my foreign husband the opportunity to get a stay permit and tax
registration number. The next step could be after five more years
of residence in Indonesia to allow him to become an Indonesian
citizen without losing his citizenship in his home country.
As for our children, they should have dual nationality
automatically from the day of their birth in Indonesia. Not only
developed countries, but also many developing countries in Africa
and in South America, allow dual nationality for children on the
grounds that these children were born on their soil and one of
their parents is a citizen of their country.
My husband's country (Belgium) allows dual nationality, but so
far, Indonesia does not allow dual nationality. This is a pity,
particularly for my two kids (the eldest is two years old and
speaks Bahasa Indonesia, not French or English).
I hope the country's next government, hoped to be truly
democratic, will respect the UN antidiscrimination charter signed
by Indonesia, and thus amend the immigration laws. Please keep in
mind that these laws are our main window to the outside world. My
husband and I would be pleased to discuss this matter in Jakarta
at any time with the relevant authorities. Maybe some other
couples in the same position could join us to bring about real
change for our families.
ELIS SUMINAR
Bandung, West Java