O

strong>Oct. 27, p1

President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has promised that his administration will pay more attention to the growing role of the Indonesian diaspora and seek a way to allow dual citizenship for Indonesian citizens and their families who have permanently settled overseas.

The pledge was made during a gathering of more than 1,000 Indonesians living in the US, on Sunday, local time, at the residence of Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Budi Bowoleksono.

'€œI will push for [dual citizenship]. It can be settled soon,'€ Jokowi said in his response to a question raised by an Indonesian named Hani, who urged the government to immediately amend Law No. 12/2006 on citizenship to allow the diaspora to have dual citizenship.

Existing regulations do not allow Indonesians to have dual citizenship.

If an Indonesian is awarded citizenship in another country, the person'€™s Indonesian citizenship is automatically declared invalid.

Some 8 million Indonesians are estimated to be living overseas.

'€œMy son was born in the US. I'€™m afraid he will not be able to become an Indonesian citizen. I want him to have dual citizenship. Please have the law revised,'€ said Hani, who lived in what she called a kampung Indonesia (Indonesian village) in Philadelphia, where many Indonesians reside.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said her office was aware of the issue, adding that a study by a number of institutions, including the government itself, had been conducted since last year to evaluate the benefits of dual citizenship.

'€œIf the President has said so, it means that the direction [of future policy] is already clear now,'€ Retno said during the event.

'€œThe government is siding with the diaspora because we see great potential in it to support national development. Therefore, such assets need to be managed well through establishing good cooperation,'€ she added.

The Indonesian Diaspora Business Council (IDBC) has suggested that the financial power of the Indonesian diaspora has begun to benefit the nation, with remittances from Indonesians abroad reaching US$8.4 billion last year.

According to Retno, the formation of a special subunit in 2012 to oversee the diaspora was one example of the government'€™s seriousness in accommodating the growing influence of the diaspora.

Your comments:

I would rather be a citizen of two countries and love them than call myself a nationalist of one but bomb it from inside in the name of religion. People whose supposed love for a nation is based solely on religious homogeny pervert culture, disrupt diversity and falsely claim superiority.

Andrewardh

Citizenship applies only to people, not ships or airplanes. The basic citizenship law adopted by Indonesia is jus sanguinis (hereditary citizenship rights) with limited jus soli (residency rights).

The distinction is important, since citizenship relates to a legal status governing rights and obligations. It is binding and must be upheld. Between Indonesia and the US, there appear to be many gaps and contradictions regarding issues of citizenship.

As a principle of integrity, the President should not promise things that cannot be delivered.

Gerahan Novianto

This is madness. What about those who changed their citizenship years ago and then came back home to Indonesia? For those who really wish to come back to Indonesia, please, leave your US citizenship and come back.

Don'€™t try to exploit the two countries '€” you will end up simply betraying both. I believe strongly in Indonesia and came back years ago, despite enjoying life abroad.

If this rule is enacted, for fairness to those who came back years ago, the government should allow dual citizenship for all.

Indo

Everyone has the right to decide where he/she wants to live, but Indonesians holding citizenship of another country should not be allowed to influence Indonesian policy.

Icfan

Like many others, I made the decision to return to Indonesia. If the government proceeds with this policy and it works only one way, meaning those who are already in Indonesia cannot apply for dual citizenship, loyalists may decide their loyalty lies elsewhere. Don'€™t forget, a nation is only a nation because of its people.

NI

Of course you can declare your loyalty elsewhere. That'€™s entirely your prerogative.

However, if you believe strongly in Indonesia, as you say you do, your loyalty should not depend on this decision. You already chose to stay in Indonesia for good, and the issue
of dual citizenship should not affect your decision to stay or go. Perhaps your loyalty to Indonesia is less staunch than you would have us
believe?

Another option, of course, is to re-apply for the citizenship of the country you left behind when you returned to Indonesia.

Fans

If the statement is true, this is excellent news for those with Indonesian spouses and dual national children.

However, if recent events are anything to go by, I think we'€™ll end up getting it in some form that is awful and intolerable like foreign '€œownership'€ of homes that is out of reach for the vast majority of people and also doesn'€™t include actual home ownership.

Daniaceh

What'€™s the problem? Enough talk and enough promises '€” let'€™s just go ahead and enact it.

Snap

Indeed; surely the drafting, approval and implementation of a law on dual citizenship would take a matter of months.

The problem is, though, that the usual xenophobic mob would, as usual, hijack the process, and the situation would only go backwards.

Lautkali