Letter: Mixed marriages

Reading The Jakarta Post’s articles on mixed marriages was interesting and in parts it is possible to see the logic behind its proposal but I do not believe true thought has gone into what its outcome could create.

Contract Marriages:  This was the aim to get rid of these types of unions, but will it work?
I do not think so, as they will simply live together, so the law will increase sin.

Most of these unions are done with blessing of the girls’ families as they see it as an opportunity to increase wealth in the family, remembering prostitution is big in Indonesia so a contract is the lesser of two evils.

If they have children, the girl will simply state they were born out of wedlock, thus the law is a total waste.

How many Indonesians are living together but not married? We all know the answer to that question.
Funding: Why should the deposit go to the Religious Affairs Ministry? Is it a scam? We all know the problems that occurs with haj funding will the same occur here, I think so and would be very surprised if the bride ever saw any money or at the best a very small proportion.

Human Rights: Does the proposer really understand human rights or is he a bigot? It must be a man because there is no woman would consider taking away her hard won rights. He must remember the UN law states we are all equal and we women are not tools to be used by men as they wish, not only is it against women but also against foreigners.

This suddenly takes Indonesia into the realms of issuing racist laws for which they must be accountable in the world. We seem to quickly take foreigners’ money and then think about how we can persecute them.

If we place such a law then it must also apply to Indonesian men to avoid the racist issue.
I notice the finger seems to be pointed at Westerners, but from what I gather it seems predominately Asian and Arab men who engage in these contracts.

In closing I do not believe the law will work as far too many loopholes and believe the lawmakers would be better employed and earning their salaries by solving many of the problems we face to the benefit of Indonesians which are far more important.
 
Asri Latifah
Jakarta