Govt Mulls Over Dual Nationality for Indonesian Citizens Abroad
20 March 2018 10:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated the government is currently studying the possibility of having dual nationality for Indonesian citizens abroad.
The issue had brought up by Retno in the forum of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Indonesian citizen in New Zealand. Reza Abdul Jabar, a farmer who owned 800 hectares of land in the country's largest province and about 2,000 cows, expressed his concern about his future generation.
"How do we deal with our second and third generation who are willing to keep their Indonesian citizenship status? We are worried about it," he said as quoted in a written statement from Presidential Secretariat, Monday, March 19.
The farmer stated there were many Indonesians working in New Zealand and it would be a problem if they were hampered to return to their mother's land.
Retno Marsudi claimed the government is conducting a review regarding the dual citizenship with many diasporas. "We held a working group on immigration matters, including the possibility of Indonesian citizen having dual nationality overseas," she said.
However, the minister argued to impose the regulation was not easy which made the government enforce a national consensus by discussing the matter with all parties.
As for the time being, the government has facilitated Indonesian citizens with diaspora cards. "At least, the ambassador will later disseminate Indonesian diaspora card as to accommodate Indonesian citizens living abroad," said Retno.
VINDRY FLORENTIN