A start, not a settlement
Citizenship is not a favor the state dispenses to useful people. It should be a recognition of a bond that does not expire when it becomes inconvenient.
Indonesia has recently taken a step towards allowing limited dual citizenship for the first time since gaining independence after decades of promises and false starts. The proposal, presented in the House of Representatives as a revision to the 2006 Citizenship Law, grants dual nationality to Indonesian diaspora members with expertise deemed crucial for national development.
This list includes scientists, medical specialists, and athletes, narrowly selected by design. Nominations must come from a ministry or state institution, and the decision to grant dual citizenship is solely based on the state's needs, not simply anyone's merit. Law Minister Supratman Andi Atgas emphasized that it is only granted when the state requires someone, not just any individual.
This move is seen as talent acquisition disguised as a citizenship reform. The concept of citizenship transcends mere favoritism or usefulness; it should be a recognition of a bond - of descent, identity, and the relationship between a person and their homeland - that persists regardless of convenience. Indonesia has long denied this recognition to millions of its citizens, citing national security concerns, divided loyalties, and the principle of the rule of law.
However, it is now willing to offer a version of it, albeit on its own terms and limited to those it deems necessary. The principle, however, remains clear: Indonesia adheres to citizenship by descent. If dual nationality is to be expanded, the initial claimants should not be state-selected scientists, but rather children of mixed marriages with Indonesian parents and a legal claim under the country's own constitutional framework.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
