Elected Regent Sabu Raijua Orient Is Managing The Release Of US Citizens

JAKARTA - Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham), Yasonna Laoly revealed that the US passport belonging to the elected regent of Sabu Raijua, NTT, Orient P Riwu Kore, is still valid until 2027. Meanwhile, the Indonesian passport will expire in April 2024.

"Based on information from the American Embassy that he holds a passport. From the Directorate General of Population Orient is still registered as an Indonesian citizen with a KTP," said Menkumham Yasonna Laoly during a hearing with Commission III of the DPR, Wednesday, March 17.

Menkum Laoly explained a number of dual citizenship issues Orient Riwu Kore. As concerned is married to a citizen of the United States and has children who are also soldiers there.

In Law 12/2016 on Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia, it is stated that someone who obtains foreign citizenship will lose Indonesian citizenship status.

Likewise with marriages with women from foreign countries. Indonesia does not adopt a dual citizenship system for citizens who are adults.

"Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia regulates that a man who marries a woman from a foreign country will lose his citizenship," explained the Minister of Law and Human Rights.

Apart from that, said Laoly, Orient Riwu Kore is also known to be working in a strategic project in the country.

"This allows him to get US citizenship more easily," continued the PDI-P politician.

Related to this problem, a number of parties, including the KPU, the Election Supervisory Agency, the Election Organizer Honorary Council, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police, the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and the Directorate General of Legal and General Administration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, held a coordination meeting on February 16, 2021. and follow-up meetings. One of the decisions at the meeting stated that Orient Riwu Kore's inauguration was postponed.

"It is true that in our law, a foreigner is not allowed to become a public official. But due to administrative considerations, it is not yet clear," said Laoly.

According to him, Orient has proposed to relinquish his US citizenship status. But it has not been processed for reasons of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Because COVID has not been processed," said Menkum Laoly.