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