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Why citizenship offer for mixed children lacks takers

by Prasetyadji

The May 31, 2024 deadline has passed for submitting naturalization applications for children from mixed marriages who were late to apply for Indonesian citizenship. Unfortunately, the opportunity has been met with a dearth of responses, as evident in the large number of uncompleted application forms piling up at the Jakarta office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

The data shows that around 6 million members of the Indonesian diaspora could have taken advantage of the government’s offer. In the last two years, however, only 111 people have applied for naturalization in Jakarta.

It is still not clear why most mixed children are reluctant to apply for naturalization or to keep their Indonesian citizenship. Is it because many parents are still uninformed about the government’s generous offer? Or is it simply because many children opt to follow their mother or father?

A senior researcher at the Indonesian Citizenship Institute (IKI).

 

The data shows that around 5,000 mixed children born before 2006 have yet to decide their citizenship. From a series of discussions between the Indonesian Citizenship Institute (IKI) and parents of mixed families, we found that there are still many mixed children  who  have  not  yet  deter- mined their citizenship.

They still enjoy educational, health and other public facilities in their country of residence, even if they are over 21 years old, and some hope to have dual citizenship for life.

IKI has been helping the government disseminate its naturalization program to several provinces and cities, such as Jakarta, Medan, the Riau Islands and Central Java.

Indonesia does not recognize dual citizenship for adults. Once they turn 18, children with one non-Indonesian parent are required to choose a single citizenship and renounce the other. Early in May, Maritime and Investment Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan hinted at a plan to reform the citizenship law and grant dual citizenship to members of the Indonesian diaspora who possess expertise that is much needed by the government.

But realizing this plan is a tall order. There has also been strong public opposition to the proposal for various reasons. The naturalization policy is based on Government Regulation (PP) No. 21/2022, which amends PP No. 3/2007 on the procedures for obtaining, losing, canceling and regaining citizenship. Many consider the regulation a revolutionary breakthrough. Why? The new regulation makes things easier for children from mixed families, including children born in Indonesia who do not have the required immigration certificate in the form of a

Permanent Stay Permit (ITAP) or Limited Stay Permit (ITAS). They can simply attach their population biodata issued by the Population and Civil Registration Service to apply for an Indonesian passport.

Cahyo Rahadian Muzhar, director general of legal and general administration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, said refining the law was in line with various efforts to improve the conducive climate in the country to attract various parties and make a positive contribution to national development.

 

Mixed children on average have better education, higher expertise and a wider network, and they are experienced in working in a globally oriented environment. Unsurprisingly, they are deemed assets to Indonesian development.

 

“Hopefully, this regulation can also encourage the Indonesian diaspora, including children of skilled Indonesian citizens, to have great love for their homeland and to want to contribute to Indonesia,” Cahyo said recently.

Law minister Yasonna Laoly revealed that the government was now preparing a government regulation that would make it much easier for diaspora members to return to their homeland without being obligated to regain Indonesian citizenship. According to the minister, the planned scheme would resemble India’s overseas citizenship policy. This means that diaspora members will have the same rights as citizens, except in political matters.

“Indonesia wants to follow the rules that apply in India. [Members of] The Indian diaspora get a lifetime visa, they can work and invest, but have no political rights,” Yasonna said, as quoted by Kompas.com on June 1.

The regulation will not violate Law No. 12/2006 on Indonesian Citizenship, which mandates single citizenship, and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to sign the new regulation before he steps down in October.
Indonesia is a multiethnic and multicultural country. Mixed marriages between different ethnicities and between Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals are very common.

According to the earliest Citizenship Law enacted in 1946, citizens are those who have lived in the country for generations or at least five years before Indonesian independence on Aug. 17, 1945 and they do not refuse to become Indonesian citizens. As time progressed, the government issued Citizenship Law No. 62/1958, but this law was deemed to restrict the citizenship rights of Indonesian women who married foreign nationals as well as their children.

Under the 1958 law, these women and their children would automatically follow the citizenship of the husband or father. Meanwhile, the naturalization process to become an Indonesian citizen cost a lot of money and took years.

With the issuance of Citizenship Law No. 12/2006 and PP No.2/2007 in the current millennial era, the government considers the issue of citizenship to be resolved. This is because the government gave children from mixed marriages between Indonesian citizens and foreigners, who were born before the 2006 law was enacted, the option of making a choice about their citizenship status within the four year period from Aug. 1, 2006 to Aug. 1, 2010.

Mixed children on average have better education, higher expertise and a wider network, and they are experienced in working in a globally oriented environment.

Unsurprisingly, they are deemed assets to Indonesian development. Owing to their cross-cultural background, they also easily adapt to and tolerate new environments and changes. They can contribute by playing an active role as a bridge connecting Indonesia and the rest of the world in almost all aspects of life.

The government needs to find out why such a low number of mixed children have applied for Indonesian citizenship. Without listening to their aspirations, the government will only waste huge, untapped potential that Indonesia badly needs to advance.

 

https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2024/06/22/why-citizenship-offer-for-mixed-children-lacks-takers.html

 

 

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MIDDLE CHILDREN

By: Passchasius HOSTI Prasetyadji

As a country that is the center of trade traffic between countries, making Indonesia a multi-ethnic and cultural country. The occurrence of mixed marriages between citizens, giving birth to children who are called mulattoes. According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary, mulatto is the result of mixed marriages of two different types; the result of cross-marriage (read: between citizens).

To confirm who is an Indonesian Citizen (WNI), then based on the Citizenship Law which was first made namely Number 3/1946, those who have lived for generations for 5 (five) years before 17 August 1945 and did not refuse to become Indonesian citizens.

Paschasius HOSTI Prasetyadji

Over time, in 1958 the Government issued Citizenship Law Number 62/1958, which was considered to have shackled the rights of citizenship for Indonesian women who married foreign men and their children. Because according to that law, their citizenship status follows that of their husband or father. And the naturalization process to become an Indonesian citizen at this time, costs a lot and takes a very long time, it can take years.

5,000 Half-Bloods

With the issuance of the Citizenship Law Number 12/2006 and Government Regulation Number 2/2007 in this millennial era, the problem of citizenship by the Government is considered to have been resolved. Because for mulatto children from mixed marriages of Indonesian citizens and foreigners who were born before Law No. 12/2006, they are given the option (period to determine their citizenship status) of 4 (four) years, namely 1 August 2006 to 1 August 2010, namely wishing to remain Indonesian citizens. or become a foreigner following the citizenship of one of his parents.

As stated by the Director of State Administration, Kemenkumham, Baroto, that children from mixed marriages who were born before the enactment of Law Number 12 of 2006 must submit an application to obtain Indonesian citizenship status. Meanwhile, children from mixed marriages who were born after the issuance of Law Number 12 of 2006 will be given Indonesian citizenship automatically. However, when they are 18 to 21 years old, the child must choose whether to become an Indonesian citizen or a foreigner, in order to avoid dual citizenship.

In reality, there are still 5,000 mulatto children from mixed marriages who were born before 2006 but have not yet determined their citizenship status.

From the discussions held by the Indonesian Citizenship Institute with mixed marriage actors, there are several things so that there are still many children from mixed marriage families who have not yet determined their citizenship status, such as: they still enjoy educational facilities, health facilities and other facilities in one of the countries. their parents, even if they are over 21 years old; others hope to have dual citizenship for life. As a result, their citizenship status is considered to be a foreign citizen.

Government regulations

The issuance of Government Regulation (PP) Number 21/2022 as a substitute for PP Number 2/2007 concerning Procedures for Obtaining, Losing, Canceling, and Reacquiring Indonesian Citizenship, many people regard as a revolutionary breakthrough. Why ?. Because the requirements are simplified, the completion process is accelerated, and with a PNBP (Non-Tax State Revenue) fee of Rp. 5,000,000.- (five million rupiah). So that among perpetrators of mixed marriages, this PP is known as “PP Five Million Rupiah”.

As for some of the requirements for citizenship applications that provide convenience for these children, among others, in the case of a child born in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia and does not have the required immigration certificate in the form of a Permanent Stay Permit (ITAP)/Limited Stay Permit (ITAS), then the child may attach Resident Biodata issued by the Population and Civil Registration Service.

The Director General of Legal and General Administration (AHU) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Cahyo Rahadian Muzhar said that “improving the law through PP Number 21 of 2022 is in line with various efforts to improve the country’s conducive climate to attract various parties to come to Indonesia to make a positive contribution to national development. It is hoped that this regulation can also encourage the Indonesian diaspora, including children of Indonesian descent who are skilled, have a great love for the Motherland, and want to contribute to Indonesia,” he said.

Potency

On average, children from mixed marriages have higher education and are human resource assets that are large enough to support Indonesia’s development. They have experience working in a globally oriented environment.

Meanwhile, his family background is cross-cultural, which enables him to easily adapt, tolerate and quickly adapt to changing times.

They may also be able to play an active role and contribute as a bridge connecting Indonesia with various nations in the world in the aspects of education, science, technology, economy and culture. One word that they hope, is that the process is simplified and the completion is accelerated.

This revolutionary Government Regulation is only valid until May 31, 2024, and will only become a directory if it is not socialized optimally. And for children from mixed marriage families, it will only be ridiculous if this policy is not put to use immediately. ***

Paschasius HOSTI Prasetyadji : Senior Researcher at the Indonesian Citizenship Institute

 

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IKI Bantu Penerbitan 1.400 Dokumen Kependudukan Untuk Warga Singkawang Dan Sambas

SINGKAWANG—Warganegara Indonesia yang telah melakukan perkawinan, berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 1974 wajib melakukan pengesahan perkawinan melalui agama masing-masing untuk kemudian dilaporkan dan dicatat oleh negara melalui dinas kependudukan dan pencatatan sipil.

Namun dalam praktiknya, berbagai kondisi di masa lalu yang dihadapi masyarakat Singkawang dan Sambas yang mayoritas adalah Tionghoa menyebabkan tidak sedikit warga yang belum mencatatkan perkawinannya secara negara.

Salah satu masalah di masa lalu adalah adanya pembedaan selama masa orba, yang berubah seiring masa reformasi.

Sejak disahkan Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 2006 tentang Kewarganegaraan RI, Undang-Undang Nomor 23 Tahun 2006 jo Undang-Undang Nomor 24 Tahun 2013 tentang Administrasi Kependudukan dan Perubahannya, serta Undang-Undang Nomor 40 Tahun 2008 tentang Penghapusan Diskriminasi Ras dan Etnis, Indonesia mulai mewujudkan kesetaraan seluruh warganegara sebagaimana amanat konstitusi sejak 1945.

IKI (Institut Kewarganegaraan Indonesia), sejak 2006 turut berpartisipasi dalam sosialisasi UU Kewarganegaraan dan UU Adminduk, termasuk di Kota Singkawang dan Kabupaten Sambas.

Selanjutnya juga telah diadakan 3 kali perkawinan massal di Kabupaten Sambas dan untuk pertama kalinya pada Selasa (23/5) diadakan di Kota Singkawang.

Peserta perkawinan dan pencatatan kali ini dipusatkan pemberkatannya di Vimala Chandra Arama diikuti oleh 32 pasang.

Sekretaris Dinas Dukcapil Kota Singkawang, Muhammad Heru yang hadir pada kegiatan tersebut menyampaikan bahwa kegiatan yang dilakukan IKI ini penting karena selain untuk melindungi perempuan dan anak-anak dalam perkawinan yang sah secara agama dan negara, juga untuk merapikan data penduduk Kota Singkawang.

 

Para penerima akta perkawinan bersama Kadisdukcapil Wahidah dan jajaran, Camat Pemangkat Sherly Narulita, Relawan IKI Eko Cahyadi (A Bun), peneliti senior IKI Eddy Setiawan, Paschasius Hosti Prasetyadji dan Gordianus Patut, di Wihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya Pemangkat, Sambas (Majelis Agama Budha Tri Dharma), Kamis (25/5).

“Kami dari Dinas Dukcapil terus merapikan database, bahkan saat program vaksinasi pandemi kemarin ada berkah terselubung yaitu penduduk yang memiliki data ganda hanya bisa vaksin jika datanya sudah tinggal. Maka banyak sekali penduduk yang melaporkan diri sehingga akhirnya database kita makin rapi.” ungkapnya.

Sementara itu Anggota DPR RI Daniel Johan, menyambut baik kegiatan ini karena memiliki dokumen kependudukan adalah salah satu hak konstitusional setiap warganegara.

“Hal ini melekat pada setiap warganegara Indonesia, status kewarganegaraan, kependudukan hingga warisnya sangat tergantung pada validitas dan kemuktahiran data kependudukannya,” ujarnya.

Pemberkatan dipimpin oleh Pandita Muda Slamet, dengan wejangan dharma dan pemercikan tirta suci dari Bhikkhu Thitayanno Mahathera kepada seluruh peserta.

Untuk kegiatan ini IKI bekerjasama dengan Magabudhi dan Dinas Dukcapil Kota Singkawang.

 

Selain di kota dengan Indeks Toleransi tertinggi versi Setara Institute 2023 tersebut, IKI juga mengadakan kegiatan serupa di Kabupaten Sambas.

Pelaksanaannya diadakan di Vihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya Pemangkat, dengan peserta berjumlah 124 pasang.

Relawan IKI yang dikoordinatori Eko Cahyadi menyatakan bahwa semula, sesuai koordinasi direncanakan 76 pasang, namun menjelang pelaksanaan terdapat banyak permohonan susulan.

“Kesulitan kami kalau menyusulnya terlalu mepet, tidak sempat merapikan data terlebih dahulu sehingga ada kemungkinan beberapa harus diselesaikan kemudian.” ujar pria yang akrab disapa Koh A Bun tersebut.

Jadi total dari kegiatan yang diselenggarakan IKI di dua daerah tersebut telah berhasil dicatatkan secara negara 156 pasang dengan penerbitan sekitar 1.400 dokumen kependudukan (akta perkawinan, pembaruan kartu keluarga, kartu tanda penduduk, pengesahan akta kelahiran, dan kartu identitas anak).

Di luar ratusan penduduk yang hadir dan dilayani melalui pelayanan keliling dukcapil Kabupaten Sambas.

“Kami menurunkan 15 petugas dukcapil baik dafduk maupun capil, agar pelayanan hari ini bisa optimal.” ungkap Wahidah, Kepala Disdukcapil Kabupaten Sambas.

Hadir dalam kegiatan di vihara yang bernaung di bawah binaan Majelis Agama Buddha Tri Dharma Indonesia atau MAGABUTRI tersebut, perwakilan IKI Eddy Setiawan, Paschasius Hosti Prasetyadji dan Gordianus Patut, serta Camat Pemangkat Ibu Sherly Narulita.

Sumber: InternationalMedia

 

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Mendengarkan Suara Anak Panti Asuhan

Banyak anak-anak yatim piatu yang tak diketahui orangtuanya tak bisa

mendapatkan atau mengurus akta kelahirannya. Nasib mereka menjadi terlunta-lunta.

Negara harus hadir membantu para yatim piatu mendapat hak mereka.

Akibat belum dilaksanakannya kebijakan surat pernyataan tanggung jawab mutlak sebagaimana diatur dalam Permendagri No 9/2016, anak-anak yatim piatu yang tidak diketahui orangtuanya tak bisa mendapatkan atau mengurus akta kelahirannya.

Surat pernyataan tanggung jawab mutlak adalah surat yang wajib dilampirkan dalam mengurus akta kelahiran, antara lain bagi anak-anak yang tidak diketahui orangtuanya.

Pasal 3 Ayat (2.b) Permendagri ini menegaskan, ”Pencatatan kelahiran anak yang tidak diketahui asal-usulnya atau keberadaan orangtuanya dilakukan dengan menggunakan atau melampirkan Surat Pernyataan Tanggung Jawab Mutlak (SPTJM) kebenaran data kelahiran yang ditandatangani oleh wali/penanggung jawab”, dalam hal ini pengurus panti.

Kebijakan yang diambil Dirjen Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil (Dukcapil) Zudan Arif Fakhrulloh ketika itu sebenarnya cukup revolusioner karena tak lagi mensyaratkan berita acara pemeriksaan (BAP) dari polisi yang sejak Republik ini berdiri tak mungkin dapat dikeluarkan.

Karena kurangnya sosialisasi, tak semua

dinas dukcapil di daerah memahami dan

melaksanakan.

 

Hal ini mengingat BAP adalah turunan dari Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Pidana (KUHP) sehingga hanya diterbitkan jika terkait dengan masalah pidana (pro-justitia).

Sayangnya, kebijakan ini belum dilaksanakan secara penuh oleh jajaran direktorat pencatatan sipil di lapangan, seperti terungkap pada Munas Forum Komunikasi Panti Asuhan Se-Jawa Tengah dan Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta di Ambarawa belum lama ini.

Karena kurangnya sosialisasi, tak semua dinas dukcapil di daerah memahami dan melaksanakan. Akibatnya, anak-anak yatim piatu yang tak diketahui orangtuanya tak bisa mendapatkan atau mengurus akta kelahirannya. Akibat selanjutnya, mereka tak dapat mengurus kartu BPJS, Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP), Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH), dan fasilitas pemerintah lainnya.

Munas yang diikuti 60 utusan dari panti asuhan ini membuka mata dan telinga kita untuk mendengarkan suara hati dari panti-panti asuhan yang anak-anak asuhnya tidak dapat diterbitkan akta kelahirannya.

Terlunta-lunta

Kurangnya sosialisasi dan tak adanya sanksi tegas bagi aparat bandel yang tak melaksanakan permendagri ini mengakibatkan nasib ribuan anak yatim piatu yang tinggal di panti asuhan di seluruh Indonesia menjadi terlunta-lunta.

Tanpa akta kelahiran, anak-anak itu tak punya identitas diri dan status kewarganegaraan (stateless), dan tak bisa mengakses jaminan atau fasilitas yang menjadi hak setiap warga negara. Tanpa akta kelahiran, sebagaimana putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi No 18/PUU-XI/2013 secara de jure anak-anak itu juga tidak dianggap ada oleh negara.

Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa, dilihat dari sisi peraturan perundangan, anak-anak ini dianggap ”bukan manusia” lagi. Dalam hubungan antarbangsa, negara dianggap abai terhadap hak-hak anak sehingga belum dikategorikan sebagai welfare state (negara kesejahteraan).

Pasal 4 huruf k UU No 12/2006 tentang Kewarganegaraan RI menegaskan, ”Anak yang lahir di wilayah negara RI apabila ayah dan ibunya tidak mempunyai kewarganegaraan atau tidak diketahui keberadaannya adalah warga negara Indonesia”. Artinya, setiap anak yang lahir di Indonesia adalah WNI, dan sesuai UU No 23/2002 tentang Perlindungan Anak, harus segera dibuatkan akta kelahirannya dengan tak dikenai biaya.

Secara kolektif, sejak terbitnya Permendagri No 9/2016, baru beberapa kabupaten dan kota yang melaksanakan diskresi melalui kebijakan ini. Untuk menjamin kepastian hukum bagi anak-anak yatim, lemah, dan marjinal ini, negara seharusnya konsekuen melaksanakan UUD 1945.

Setiap penduduk berhak memperoleh

dokumen kependudukan dan mendapat

pelayanan yang sama dan setara dalam

pendaftaran penduduk dan pencatatan

sipil seperti akta kelahiran.

 

Negara harus turun merangkul mereka. Setiap penduduk berhak memperoleh dokumen kependudukan dan mendapat pelayanan yang sama dan setara dalam pendaftaran penduduk dan pencatatan sipil seperti akta kelahiran. Artinya, negara wajib ”menjemput bola” melalui RT, RW, rumah sakit, puskesmas, bidan, sekolah-sekolah, dan tentu panti-panti asuhan.

Direktorat pencatatan sipil harus diisi orang-orang yang memahami dan menguasai masalah pencatatan sipil, bukan ”orang-orang buangan” yang tak mengerti ”roh” kedukcapilan. SPTJM satu-satunya harapan mereka. Ditjen Dukcapil perlu menyosialisasikan Permendagri No 9/2016 seluas-luasnya dan memberikan sanksi tegas kepada pejabat yang bandel.

Prasetyadji Peneliti Senior Institut Kewarganegaraan Indonesia

 

Artikel ini sudah dimuat di Harian KOMPAS.

https://www.kompas.id/baca/opini/2023/05/30/mendengarkan-suara-anak-panti-asuhan

 

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Bersama Frengky Welirang

Frengky Welirang : PP 21 Tahun 2022 ini penting, terutama untuk anak-anak dari perkawinan campuran Warga Negara Indonesia dengan Warga Negara Asing.

Momentum perpanjangan waktu mengajukan naturalisasi ini harus dimanfaatkan.

 

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Frengky Welirang: PP 21/2022 Penting !!

Hari ini, Senin Legi, 10 April 2023, minta pendapat Senior (Pembina Yayasan Institut Kewarganegaraan Indonesia/IKI) tentang terbitnya PP 21/2022 untuk anak-anak dari Perkawinan Campuran yang ingin mengajukan kewarganegaraan Indonesia.
Banyak ide-ide menarik dari Pak Frengky Welirang dalam mewujudkan kesetaraan hak dan kewajiban sebagai sesama warga bangsa.
Banyak juga cerita mengenai sejarah masalah kewarganegaraan masa lampau.
Menarik, dan banyak informasi.
Tq pak FW.
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