TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo promised to push the discussion on the Bill for Dual Citizenship for children who were born from parents with different citizenships, during a visit to Washington DC, United States (US). The promise was delivered in a dialogue with Indonesian diaspora at Washington's Tilden House on Sunday, October 25.
"This question will be answered directly by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, because wherever I go, I have been asked that question. I personally want the discussion to progress and solved as soon as possible," said President Jokowi.
The issue of dual citizenship was raised by Hani, an Indonesian citizen living in Philadelphia - who is married to a local farmer and has a child from the relationship, who is an American citizen.
"My child was born in the US, and I am afraid that once we return to Indonesia, he would not be considered as an Indonesian citizen. I want my child to have dual citizenship," said Hani, whose question was met with a round of applause from those who attended the dialogue.
Hani claims that child - who is currently enrolled an in a Computer Science course - is fluent in Mandarin, Arabic, English, and Indonesian, and that she continuously monitors the development of the discussion on the Bill at the House of Representatives (DPR).
Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno LP Marsudi said that the discussion has indeed progressed since the topic was first raised in August 2015, during a discussion among Indonesian diaspora in Jakarta.
According to Retno, the discussion is a form of support for Indonesian diaspora, because Indonesians abroad could potentially provide a boost of support for the development and progress of Indonesia as a country.
"They are an asset that we have to manage properly through proper cooperation. I have analysed the circumstances and I have conveyed my findings to the Minister for Lawn and Human Rights Affairs - that the President wishes the discussion to go on forwards," said Retno.
In fact, continued Retno, there is a deputy in the Foreign Affairs Ministry's structure whose sole job is to look after the need of Indonesian diaspora - which she considers a positive sign from the government for the discussion.
ANTARA
