T

he government’s plan to consider allowing dual citizenship has been warmly received by members of the Indonesian diaspora, who see it as an opportunity to make it easier for them to contribute to the country.

However, some legal experts have warned the government not to be too hasty in implementing the idea as it may also inadvertently deliver adverse effects to the nation.

Paul Amron, a Yogyakarta-born business consultant with an extensive 26-year career in the US, welcomes the plan. “I believe it’s the dream of every Indonesian abroad,” he said after learning about the plan to allow dual citizenship.

Indonesians living abroad often face a dilemma because as foreigners in countries other than their country of birth, their rights and privileges are often limited at a certain point. However, they will lose their Indonesian citizenship if they decide to take citizenship in their country of residence because Indonesia does not recognize dual citizenship.

“Many of Indonesia’s excellent minds are eager to contribute to the country. But it’s difficult for us, the diaspora, to share ideas and experience because every time we return to the country we have to face the red-tape visa policy and other bureaucratic matters,” he said.

Paul said holding two nationalities would benefit people because the privileges earned from the two states could help them in pursuing their careers. He also claimed “our love and passion for the homeland will remain unchanged.”

“Questioning our passion and allegiance to Indonesia is funny. The fact is, the farther you are away from Indonesia, the bigger your love is,” he said.

An Indonesian-born Dutch national, Pauline Budianto, said her love for the country would never cease as her main motivation when moving to the European country 28 years ago was to better learn how to develop cities in Indonesia and contribute to her land of origin.

“I studied spatial planning for the slum areas. If not for Indonesia, where else? My expertise would not be useful in the Netherlands,” the woman said, explaining her reason for returning to Indonesia. Pauline has a doctorate from Delft University of Technology.

Apart from Indonesia’s diaspora, the plan is also supported by expatriates who have lived in Indonesia for many years.

“For mixed-marriage families, there are many problems living in Indonesia, such as the right to work and to own property,” said Marilyn Ardipraja, an Australian who is married to an Indonesian and who has lived in the country for 40 years.

She added that foreigners were not allowed to own property, only to use it.

Indonesian immigration law stipulates that if the Indonesian spouse dies, the foreign spouse can inherit the property, but has to sell it within one year or change the property’s status to a right to use.

She said she had never applied to become a naturalized Indonesian citizen because of the effect it would have on traveling back home to Australia and on her prospects in retirement.

“I can get a pension in my home country to support me after retirement. I would like to become an Indonesian if I could keep my current citizenship. I have lived here for more than half of my life,” she said.

Although the government has opened the door to revising the law, legal experts have warned the government to be careful in its deliberations.

Citing vulnerability to international crime, international law expert Hikmahanto Juwana from the University of Indonesia (UI) suggested that the revision be limited and selective in regard to which parts of the diaspora and which countries might be granted the chance to apply for dual citizenship.

“We should think about which countries can get the dual citizenship and until when. We should not welcome all foreigners to become Indonesian citizens because it could lead to transnational crime,” Hikmahanto said. (fac)