Indonesian diaspora congress urges dual nationality
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | World | Tue, July 10 2012, 1:16 PM
Priyo Budi Santoso: Deputy House speaker. (Kompas.com/Hendra A Setyawan)
More than 5,000 people at the Congress of Indonesian Diaspora (CID) in Los Angeles in the US have signed a petition asking the government to allow dual nationality for Indonesian citizens, House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso says.
The event, hosted by the Indonesian embassy to the US, was the first of its kind aimed at Indonesian expatriates and immigrants, their descendants and those with cultural connections to the country.
In his speech closing the congress on Sunday, Priyo said the House would consider the petition, based on the nation’s citizenship, immigration and the human rights laws.
“Human rights is the best barometer to make it possible for an Indonesia citizen to stay in Indonesia, leave Indonesia and come back to Indonesia,” Priyo said as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday.
According to the Foreign Ministry, more 5.8 million Indonesians or people of Indonesian descent live overseas, including 150,000 in the US. (yps/iwa)
