Mixed Marriage Mothers Demand More Child Rights

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15-05-2008 03:13:19 PM - Discussion Panel - By Admin - View : 639 Times

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Thu, 05/15/2008 1:20 AM | Headlines

Mixed-marriae mothers demand more child rights

An association for Indonesian wives of foreign nationals has demanded the government grant their children permanent residence visas.

The request was among many set forth by KPC Melati during a discussion Wednesday with officials from the State Ministry for Women's Empowerment on problems faced by its members.

KPC secretary-general Marcellina Tanuhandaru said a permanent residence visa would allow a person to reside indefinitely within the country despite not having citizenship.

Currently, Indonesia does not have permanent residence facility.

"Indonesia does not recognize permanent residence because it is not an immigrant country, like Canada or some European countries," said Marcellina, a mother of two, who is married to an American.

"However, it would be great if the government considered such a visa so that children of transnational couples could live side by side with their Indonesian mothers and foreign fathers," she said.

Since 2006, transnational couples have been able to apply for Indonesian citizenship for their children.

A 2006 law stipulates that all children born in Indonesia after August of that year are to be granted automatic Indonesian citizenship.

The law also grants children of transnational marriages with Indonesian mothers the right to dual citizenship until they are 18 years of age.

At 18, they can choose whether to remain Indonesian citizens or take the citizenship of their foreign fathers. They are given three years to choose a nationality.

Before the 2006 law was enacted, children automatically became citizens of their fathers' countries and transnational couples had to pay yearly fees for temporary residence permits for each of their children.

Children with Indonesian fathers have been automatically granted Indonesian citizenship.

"It is a matter of how to maintain the relationship between children and their Indonesian mothers or foreign fathers. As a mother, I hope that my children will follow my citizenship so I can stay close to them," Marcellina said.

"I couldn't do anything if they chose their father's citizenship but they could get more involved in this country with permanent residence, so they would not have to frequently arrange their visas (abroad)," she said.

During the discussion, KPC Melati members criticized the "poor implementation" of the 2006 law, particularly in regions outside Jakarta and Denpasar, Bali.

"Some Indonesian wives still have difficulty arranging dual citizenship ... for their children. We ask the government to simplify the procedures," said another association member, Rinawati.

She said the government should do more to inform the public about regulations pertaining to transnational marriages.

An expert staff member at the State Ministry for Women's Empowerment, Irma Alamsyah Djaya Putra, said her office is cooperating with the Foreign Ministry to inform people about the law on mixed marriages through overseas embassies.

"We hope they will promote the law to Indonesian women married to foreign men and living abroad. It is also important for the foreign husbands to know more about the law," she said. (trw)