The targets this time are not the usual suspects, like foreign leaders or multinational companies supposedly out to undermine Indonesia’s political or economic sovereignty. This time we are targeting two of our own people who must count among the nation’s brightest.

The vicious attacks, initiated by the government but quickly going viral on social media, were reserved for Arcandra Tahar and Gloria Natapradja Hamel, who are as Indonesian in flesh and blood as any other.

There may be questions about their citizenship status, but the way the nation has treated them shows that Indonesia has hardly moved on from the days when Sukarno, the republic’s first president, rallied the nation to drive away the Dutch rulers by stoking nationalist sentiment.

In those days, 71 years ago, nationalism inevitably became equated with anticolonialism, and in the political language of the day, anti-imperialism. Xenophobia had a role to play then, although it is debatable whether Sukarno should have played this up as he did throughout his 20-year reign.

But fast forward to the 21st century, is there really a role for xenophobia in Indonesia?

Unfortunately, politicians of the day almost of all colors have found it convenient and even profitable to fire up antiforeigner sentiment, particularly but not exclusively around election times.

For short-term political expediency more than anything else, they use the antiforeigner card. But this comes with a price tag that undermines Indonesia’s international standing and hurts the nation’s long-term interests. But even more dangerous is that the xenophobia may now be spiraling out of control, as the episodes with Arcandra and Gloria tell us.

Arcandra is an Indonesian oil executive who has led a successful life and career in the US these last 20 years. Last month President Joko “Jokowi’ Widodo recruited him as energy and mineral resources minister. Naturally, he accepted the chance to serve his native country.

Arcandra seemed the perfect person for the job, but over the weekend it was revealed that he had taken US citizenship. While the US allows for dual nationality, Indonesia does not. So effectively, his Indonesian citizenship was automatically voided. But this only became known after he took the Cabinet job. The State Palace was evasive about the whole issue for three days, until it announced on Monday night that Jokowi had fired the minister.

This should have been a slap in the face of Jokowi, but instead, the palace went into high gear to pin the blame squarely on Arcandra. Understandably, the President could not afford to lose face on the eve of delivering the state of the nation address on Tuesday.

Indonesian netizens throughout the weekend portrayed Arcandra as a double agent, using as evidence his decision to extend the export license of PT Freeport Indonesia, the American mining company that operates the world’s largest gold mine in Papua, within a few days of moving to the ministry. They did not say that the extension was automatic every six months.

The story of Gloria is more tragic. She had been chosen among Indonesian’s best high-school children to join the flag-raising team for the Independence Day ceremony at the State Palace.

Only 68 high-school children nationwide are selected each year for the task. So they are the best of the nation’s children. Gloria and her teammates have been going through grueling training this past month conducted by members of the presidential guard to ensure perfection.

On Monday, the State Palace dropped the bomb: Gloria had been removed from the team, just two days before the event, because they said they had learned she had French nationality. The timing, at a time when the President was coming under so much heat to drop Arcandra, looked suspicious.

Jokowi’s intervention on Wednesday to let her take part in the afternoon ceremony to lower the flag helps a little. But why go halfway? Why not let her take full part in the first place?

Gloria has a French father and an Indonesian mother. Indonesian law says that children from mixed marriages take the nationality of their father. The Immigration Law also says these children may obtain dual nationality, but they have to decide on one nationality upon turning 18.

Gloria is 17; while she may have a French passport, she has spent almost her entire life in Indonesia. She goes to an Indonesian school. It is unclear whether she holds an Indonesian passport, to which she is entitled, but this is simply a matter of paperwork.

In spite of her pleading — she sent a personal letter to Jokowi — the palace was resolute. It was very specific: She cannot get anywhere near the palace, as if she posed a national security threat.

Arcandra and Gloria do not deserve the harsh treatment that they got, certainly not when Indonesia is celebrating its 71st independence anniversary. Sadly, it is the State Palace that has driven the xenophobic sentiment.

Arcandra represents the best of the rapidly growing diaspora of Indonesians who have decided to work and live in other countries. Some, like him, may have taken up citizenship of the country where they live, probably more for expediency and not for lack of loyalty.

Gloria represents the best of the offspring of mixed marriages. With globalization and increasing ease of travel and communication, there are many Glorias out there who hold promise for Indonesia’s future.

Indonesia needs to move on to the 21st century reality and embrace people like Arcandra and Gloria wholeheartedly. It is in our national interest. Instead, we are driving them away, because our politicians find that xenophobia still sells for their own benefit, but not for the nation.

This has been a tragic Independence Day, not for Arcandra and Gloria, but perhaps for Indonesia.

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