Having Dinner with Minister of Justice

Posted on September 1, 2007
Filed Under Indonesia, News

On Dual Citizenship and the Expats

I just came back from Indonesian embassy (KBRI) New Delhi for a meeting with Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Hamid Awaluddin & his delegates who’re attending a conference of AALCO or Asia Africa Legal Consultative Organisation (this time, we’re all invited, thanks for that!) . As question & answer session is opened by Ambassador Donillo Anwar, I come first to ask three questions one of which regarding the possibility of Indonesia having dual-citizenship policy.

Unfortunately, the answer is unsatisfactory which is not worth mentioning. The bottom line is he–which mean current government– doesn’t have any plan to make such breakthrough policy. But he said, under his ministership, changes have been made or is underway on that regard so as to make life easier for everyone concerned.

For example, a non-Indonesian who gets married with an Indonesian woman will get permanent residentship in Indonesia. An investor will get at least three year permit visa and can extend it in Indonesia without any need to go abroad (Indonesian embassy) just to prolong their stay. An investor who invest to certain amount will get permanent residentship also. Some of the new regulations either has been made or is on the plan. But he assured us that’ll happen. Any investor, including foreigner, will only need to ask permission to invest to provincial authority. There’s no need to go through Jakarta.

Other two friends of mine, Qisai and Tylla, are questioning the security situation in Aceh, Freeport & Papua’s asylum seeker issue and Cepu (oil). It seems to me, only on Aceh issue Mr. Awaluddin’s response has a merit.