Dual-nationality
families are being hurt by local laws, says group Srikandi
Jakarta Globe, Sylviana Hamdani, May 18, 2013
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| From left: Srikandi members Ninda Burnett, Ayu Aloisi, Ani Winn, Sylvi Butt, Xania Maya, Itha Saleem, Yuyun Furry. (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani) |
For many
Indonesian women, marrying an expatriate is alluring. Foreign men are usually
considered to be good looking, well educated and in high-paying jobs.
But mixed
marriages aren’t easy. Indonesian women who wed expatriate men are subject to a
host of legal disadvantages that effectively renders them second-class
citizens.
“There are
a lot of problems in mixed marriages,” said Dewi Hardy, one of the founders of
Srikandi, an organization dedicated to helping Indonesian women struggling with
the legal difficulties of marrying foreign men.
“They’re
mainly caused by cultural and educational gaps, as well as legal issues.”
Dewi,
Kartini Litsberger, Rahayu Morris and some of their friends established
Srikandi in Jakarta in 2000, after meeting at a parent activity program at an
international elementary school. All were married to foreigners, and decided to
start an organization of similar Indonesian women.
“The
organization echoes the struggle of Srikandi herself, who fights for justice
and welfare for many,” Dewi said.
In Javanese
wayang mythology, Srikandi is the wife of the handsome warrior Arjuna, and also
a warrior feared and respected by men and women alike.
The
Srikandi organization became a platform for all Indonesian women married to
foreigners to meet and help one another out, fighting to change discriminatory
regulations on mixed marriages.
Srikandi
now has more than 350 members.
“We realize
we’ve become foreigners in our own country, just because [our husbands] are
foreigners,” Dewi said.
It is
largely due to the group’s tireless efforts that many unfair parts of the law
have been rectified.
A very
disadvantageous regulation used to be the 1958’s Law No. 62 on Indonesian
citizenship. Under it, children born into mixed marriages took the citizenship
of their fathers, depriving them of a legal Indonesian identity.
“In many
cases, the husband left the country and took the children with him,” Dewi said.
“There was little the wife could do since legally the children were not
Indonesian citizens.”
That law
has since been revoked. These days, children of mixed marriages have dual
citizenship until the age of 18, at which point they are given a three-year
period in which to deliberate what country to belong to and which citizenship
to sacrifice. (Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship for adults.)
Another law
Srikandi objected to disqualified Indonesian women from sponsoring their
husbands to live in Indonesia permanently.
Expatriate
husbands were expected to acquire a tourist or business visa to be able to stay
in the country with their wives, which had to be renewed periodically and often
at great expense.
But a 2007
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights regulation states that an Indonesian woman
who has been married to a foreigner for more than two years may sponsor her
husband to obtain a Kitap (permanent residency permit) to live in the country.
Indonesian
men married to expatriate women have a stronger legal standing. A local man can
sponsor his wife to live in the country, and their children automatically get
Indonesian citizenship.
Although
things have improved for Indonesian women married to expatriate men, their
fight for equality is far from over.
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| Srikandi founder Itha Saleem and Irene Murphy. (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani) |
Recently, a
new governing body was chosen to lead the organization. Members of Srikandi
elect their governing body every two years, ensuring new voices are heard.
An
inauguration ceremony was held at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Plaza Senayan
Arcadia, South Jakarta, earlier this month. About 100 members and their
families attended.
The new
governing body is led by advertising specialist Itha Saleem.
“It’s both
an honor and huge responsibility for me to serve as chairwoman of Srikandi,”
the 47-year-old said.
“Srikandi
is not a playful organization. We have a strong vision and mission we want to
achieve in this organization.
“Our next
goal is to promote the new regulation of the Ministry of Justice and Human
Rights that entitles foreigners married to Indonesian women for more than two
years to get Kitap.
“The
regulation is in effect now. Yet very few people know about this.”
To promote
the regulation, Itha said Srikandi would hold an open seminar on the subject in
Kemang Village, South Jakarta, on May 29. Kemang is a suburb popular with
expatriate families and close to many of Jakarta’s international schools.
Directorate
generals of the immigration and labor agencies have been invited as the main
speakers, while another seminar on a similar topic will also be held in Jakarta
in September, as Srikandi members attempt to enfranchise their Indonesian
sisters.
In
December, the organization plans to hold a charity ball for all its members and
their families. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to
not-for-profit groups working with underprivileged families around the country.
Itha will
also try to push legislators to rectify the dual citizenship status for
children born into mixed marriages.
“I want
them to have dual citizenship for life,” she said. “After all, they’re partly
Indonesian in flesh and blood.”
According
to Itha, dual citizenship for children of mixed marriages would protect them in
case conflict broke out between their two home countries.
“With dual
citizenship status, these children will still be free to visit and stay in both
countries in case of war,” she added.
Itha is
married to a British entrepreneur and has three children, all now studying in
the United Kingdom.
To rejuvenate
the organization, it has adopted a new logo portraying Srikandi in human form,
with a quiver of arrows on her back.
“It means
Srikandi is ready to come to the aid of any Indonesian women facing problems in
their mixed marriages,” Itha said.
“We have a
team of lawyers and good contacts with embassies in Jakarta to help any woman
in this situation.”
In the new
logo, Srikandi stands within a fuchsia circle.
“That means
all women in this organization will stand hand-in-hand to help all Indonesian
women in mixed marriages,” Itha said.
Within the
logo’s circle is a world map signifying the international backgrounds of the
women’s husbands.
During the
inauguration ceremony, Itha also introduced the new slogan of the organization:
“Together, we’re stronger.”
After the
inauguration ceremony, Ninda Burnett, the organization’s new public relations
officer, donated several English books to the Save Street Child charity in
Jakarta.
“We hope
that the books will help the street children learn English,” Ninda said.
The event
culminated with a fashion parade by Tre, a ready-to-wear label conceived by
Indonesian fashion designer and Srikandi member Xania Maya Christina.
Members of
the Srikandi organization and some of their daughters got into the spirit of
the evening by modeling outfits in the fashion show, which showcased
traditional Indonesian textiles.
“We’re
married to expatriates, but we’re still Indonesians,” Itha said.
“We love
Indonesian art and culture and will continue to feature them in all of our next
events.”
Srikandi
Jalan Abdul
Madjid No. 10
Cipete Selatan, South Jakarta
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