By Kevin Kumala
Staff Writer
The United States government has recently added Indonesia to its list of countries whose citizens are required to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
Out of the 25 countries listed, only North Korea is a non-Muslim country. Is this then a policy of racial discrimination against Muslim individuals through racial profiling by the INS? First it is done at American airports and borders. Now they want to profile each and every citizen from those countries listed.
Following Sept. 11, the Bush administration has time and time again issued statements opposing racial biases against the Middle Eastern and/or Muslim population in the country. However, targeting these people through the INS because of their origins is totally biased and discriminatory. It sets an example for American citizens that says it is all right to target immigrants from certain countries for the sake of everyone’s security.
If an American citizen in Indonesia were to cause a national security breach, would it then be fair and justified if the Indonesian authorities implemented a policy whereby all American foreigners in the nation would be subjected to mass registration and monitoring, and even detention without legal counsel if that individual seems suspicious or had overstayed his visa?
If a Latino person, for example, commits an act of violence against an entire community in the States, would it then be morally and legally justified to require all Central and South American citizens to report everything about themselves to the INS?
Most Indonesian citizens in the United States are legitimate visitors. Indonesians such as myself have contributed to the educational system and to the economy at large by enrolling in universities throughout the nation. We have also spent on lodging, transportation as well as living expenses, hence contributing to the American economy. Most Indonesians residing in the States are merely here for an education or to visit friends or family. Other than conducting legal business here in the United States, the majority of Indonesians here do not overstay their visas in order to live illegally in the country. Many consider the United States only as a country to visit and ultimately do go back to their home country once education and experience is achieved. We do not intend to cause any harm to a country that has provided us with these academic and economic privileges.
To my knowledge, no single Indonesian citizen in America has been convicted of any serious wrong-doing, especially terrorism. There are currently no suspects in regards to Sept. 11 and al Qaeda activities who are Indonesians.
Perhaps America has been more weary, especially since the Oct. 12 Bali bombings that were supposed to target Americans as well as their foreign allies.
However, America must understand that in Indonesia, a country with the world’s largest Muslim population, radical Islam constitutes a minority of the entire population and the mainstream Islam organizations have ostracized this minority for their hardline and sometimes violent beliefs. Sure, we have plenty of disagreements with aspects of the American foreign policy. However, most of us are civilized and consider these disagreements part of the arena of global diplomacy, meaning that such problems should be approached by governments and not individuals.
Being an Indonesian citizen currently pursuing an education here in the United States, I will definitely abide by this new regulation by the U.S. government. No one should try to oppose this government by not registering with the INS, even if the individual strongly opposes such policies.
However, as a community, we should collectively try to persuade our government, the Megawati-Hamzah government, to increase diplomatic pressures on this American administration to make them realize that Indonesia poses no direct national security threat to America.
The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda has already stated his disagreement with this policy. However, more pressures and assurances to the Indonesian community abroad should be given. The Indonesian government has to protect and provide any assistance to its citizens if the United States takes any unlawful measures in the name of national security.
January 30, 2003