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EDITORIAL: Embracing diaspora
Once again the diaspora congress raised the hopes of millions of Indonesians working and living overseas that Indonesia could adopt dual citizenship.
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Former US president Barack Obama delivers his speech in the 4th Indonesian Diaspora Congress in Jakarta on July 1, 2017. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
F
rom time to time Indonesians buzz with pride when they hear news of Indonesians who have won recognition abroad for their skills. Last year, for instance, it was the “Spice Sisters,” Tasia and Gracia Seger, who won the Australian cooking competition show My Kitchen Rules. On Saturday Yoshi Sudarso, an Indonesian star of a popular American children’s television series, Power Rangers Dino Charge, addressed the fourth Congress of Indonesian Diasporas. Another attendant was Luis Leeds, a 17-year-old racer of Australian and Indonesian nationality — who must choose one nationality on his 18th birthday, as Indonesia does not recognize dual citizenship.
The pride for Indonesians recognized abroad has not translated into what the country can do for them — like millions of migrants worldwide, Indonesians living overseas are mostly recognized by families and communities here as senders of remittance payments. Dual citizenship for children was huge progress in itself, ending the threat of children becoming stateless if their parents with foreign citizenship failed to extend their visas in time.
Once again the diaspora congress raised the hopes of millions of Indonesians working and living overseas that Indonesia could adopt dual citizenship, so that both Indonesian nationals and those with foreign citizenship could still contribute to the nation as citizens.
As a controversial issue there has been scant but hopefully meaningful progress. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said last year his administration was considering a revision of the 2006 citizenship law, while Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the ministry will soon introduce privileges for the diaspora, including a “diaspora card” to function as an identity token for Indonesians living abroad.
At least with facilities like visas lasting for several years many Indonesians may drop the practice of quietly reserving their Indonesian passports after having taken up foreign citizenship — a practice highlighted in the case of Arcandra Tahar, whose expertise in oil technology briefly won him the post of energy and mineral resources minister until his US citizenship was exposed. He quickly opted for Indonesian citizenship and is now the deputy minister.
The contradiction of reveling in overseas Indonesians’ achievements while setting up barriers against dual citizenship in part reflects our insecurity — as if anyone taking up foreign citizenship for whatever reason no longer loves the country. However, as anyone living abroad has testified, many continue to miss the motherland, warts and all, and eventually several seek ways to contribute to the nation apart from sending remittances.
Indonesia is far behind fellow Asian countries like the Philippines and India who recognize their diaspora with special status and entitlements, even allowing citizens to vote from overseas. Indonesians abroad also hope for ease of doing business and investing in their homeland, apart from retaining family and cultural ties. The diaspora have many skills and experiences to share, including their struggles to survive in and adapt to foreign environments.
Let’ stop whining over brain drain, low education quality and low productivity. Some 8 million Indonesian nationals and non-nationals abroad could help in many ways once we welcome them as our own brethren.
