Welcome

Hi, and welcome to my Indonesian expat news and real estate blog site. I hope you find the information here useful, informative, thought provoking, and perhaps good for even a chuckle or two. Please feel free to join in and participate by leaving a comment, suggestion or question. On the right side column navigation panes you will find areas for getting around on this site and some helpful links as well. To search my blog site for a topic of interest to you either use the search box in the upper left hand corner menu bar or use the blog archive on the right side column pane. Thanks for stopping by... And if you, or someone you know, is looking to buy or sell a property in Indonesia or the United States please contact me at +62.815.1000.8967

Friday, December 9, 2011

World's Largest All-Bamboo Factory - in Bali

Article courtesy of Gizmag:  






 We've seen cutting boards, bicycles, floors, even houses made of bamboo, but an organic chocolate factory? Evidently, when Ben Ripple and Frederick Schilling, the two co-CEOs of specialty food company Big Tree Farms (BTF) talked about sustainably building their new plant, they put their money where their mouths are. Now, the Indonesian island of Bali is home to what BTF claims is the largest all-bamboo commercial building ever constructed, and soon, it'll be cranking out tasty chocolate bars by the thousands.

"Bamboo is definitely regarded as one of the most sustainable building materials in the world," said Schilling. "What we've done here is created this very, very practical building using bamboo with, obviously, sustainability at the core purpose, but at the same time, we were able to create a very aesthetically beautiful building."

If you've traveled anywhere in Asia, you've likely seen skyscrapers and other tall structures surrounded by bamboo scaffolding. Indeed, bamboo has been a vitally important building material for thousands of years, and for good reason. Not only does it grow quickly - some species can sprout close to a meter (39 inches) in a 24-hour period - but it also rivals the tensile and compressive strengths of mild steel and certain concrete mixtures respectively. Technically a grass, some of the largest timber species can grow to over 98 feet (30 m) in height and reach 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in diameter.

As amazing as it is structurally, bamboo still has a few limitations that need to be addressed before it can be used in open construction. Savvy builders now know to treat the wood with both borax (fire retardant) and boric acid (insecticide), to help protect the occupants and keep termites and other wood-boring pests at bay. A majority of the interior walls, made from woven bamboo strips, were also sealed with a food-grade coating to satisfy local building code requirements.

BTF's intention is for its traditionally-styled new 26,500 square foot (2,460 square meter) structure to be a "beans to bar" processing plant that will take the organic cacao from thousands of regional farmers and blend it with locally-harvested coconut-palm sugar to create a truly sustainable (and presumably delicious) new line of chocolates. How sweet is that?

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Jakarta - English Tutor for Professional / Business / Career or Vocational Level

If you speak a little bit of English, but need to polish or refine your language and conversational skills for business, professional, career or vocational purposes; I can put together a conversation-based syllabus and tutoring program for you.

You will be learning from a native born college educated and professional level United States (American) citizen speaker and writer.  American English is by far the clearest form of the English language spoken anywhere in the world and is the clearest for annunciation and diction.   For a discussion of American vs. UK vs. Australian vs. Canadian or other "dialect" of the English language see my related article.

Each session is for a duration of 90 minutes (1.5 hrs) and charges vary depending on location and transportation to/from students residence or place of business.  I am located in Bogor (Sentul City), but can make arrangements to accommodate a student residing or working in other areas of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan area.  

If distance is an issue, we can also take advantage of today's technologies and conduct a session by Skype (video or voice) conferencing or use of one of the instant messaging programs to communicate with each other.      

Your program would be custom tailored to your individual needs or objectives; but generally,  the core emphasis in this type of syllabus would include study in areas or concentrations such as:
  • Language functions (10%) – focus on the purpose for which speech or writing is being used; i.e. introducing ourselves, expressing needs & likes, asking questions, expressing & supporting opinions; describing people, places & things, professional or business context, etc
  • Sample dialogs in various contexts tailored to student’s needs (45%)
  • Vocabulary practice (25%)
  • Grammar review (20%)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Update on New Immigration Law - PR (KITAP) & Working Permit for Foreigners

Here is a reprint of an article appearing in the October 20, 2011 issue of the Jakarta Globe:


When the long-awaited revision of the 1992 Immigration Law was passed in April, thousands of foreigners living here greeted it with cautious cheers and applause.

The revisions are supposed to make it easier for foreigners who qualify to obtain permanent residency permits, but the months since the law’s passage have proved to be confusing both for the supposed beneficiaries and the office supposed to implement it.

Anxious Questions

Hundreds of mixed-marriage couples are at the forefront of those waiting anxiously for the new law to become effective.

“The spirit of this new law is to accommodate long-time married couples whose spouses still have to renew their permit once every year,” said Sandra Tjahyakusuma, a member of International Rainbow Alliance (APAB), which is part of the advocacy team for the 2011 Immigration Law.

The new law stipulates that foreigners who have been legally married to an Indonesian for at least two years will be immediately granted a permanent residency permit (Kitap). It also allows foreigners to remain in the country even if they divorce their Indonesian partner, as long as their marriage lasted at least 10 years.

Sandra, an Indonesian citizen who has been married to a British national for 18 years, said the old law did not accommodate foreigners who wanted to get a permanent residency permit unless they held top corporate positions.

“Now if you are married for a minimum of two years with an Indonesian citizen, you are eligible for it,” she said.  But there remain plenty of questions and complaints.

In Effect or Not?

The most common question asked since the law’s passage is: When will it go into effect?

And here lies the first confusion: Technically, a law needs implementing rules and regulations to be enforced properly.

“We are still waiting for the [implementing rules] on this,” said Asriyani, one of the bureau heads at Central Jakarta Immigration Office.

A thick draft of the regulations, which would be issued in the form of a governmental decree, was shown to the Jakarta Globe, but officials say this won’t be finalized until next year. The law states that such regulations should be issued within a year of a law being passed, though this hasn’t always happened. The 2009 Health Law, for instance, still doesn’t have implementing rules and regulations.

The regulations are needed to detail exactly how to interpret the law.

However, in July, Erwin Azis, director of immigration information systems, explained in a public forum that even without the government decree, certain parts of the law were already in effect, like the one where foreigners who have been legally married to an Indonesian for two years are entitled to obtain a Kitap.

But it seems not everyone is on the same page.

Insufficient Answers

Sandra said they’ve compiled the most common responses given by immigration officials who reject applications for a Kitap, as submitted by dozens of frustrated mixed-marriage couples.

The first one is that the law is not yet in effect, she said.

“We find this ridiculous because the new law includes a transitional provision that says the legal spouse of an Indonesian citizen who has had a Kitas [temporary residency permit] for at least two years can immediately get the Kitap,” Sandra explained.

The second relates to fees. Earlier this month, APAB also received a report that a staff member at the Immigration Directorate General demanded Rp 15 million ($1,700) for the Kitap.

According to the old law, a Kitap that’s valid for five years costs Rp 3 million, and an extension would cost Rp 2 million. The implementing regulations to be issued next year are supposed to define the new costs.

“The third response is that the applicant still needs a sponsor even though Article 63, Paragraph 4 of the new law says  a sponsor is no longer needed for those married to Indonesian citizens,” Sandra said.

Irregular Implementation

With or without implementing regulations, the West Jakarta Immigration Office has gone ahead and applied aspects of the new law and issued Kitaps to foreigners who met the requirements for mixed-marriage couples.

Office head Mirza Iskandar said they did not judge applications based on occupations, “as long as they are married to an Indonesian for at least two years. That’s what the law says.”

“But not that many people come here. I think most of the mixed-marriage couples go to the South Jakarta Immigration Office,” he said.  Mujiyono, the head of the South Jakarta Immigration Office, said he had recently begun accepting applications from foreigners wishing to make use of the new law,  but not all were approved.

“Of course I have to filter them first. Only applications from those who have been married at least two years and can show a document from their embassy will be forwarded to the provincial [immigration] office,” he said.

Burhanuddin, who is responsible for issuing Kitaps in West Jakarta, said the process usually took at least a month as staffers needed to verify the information including by home visits.

“If they are really married to Indonesians, and for how long, etcetera,” he said.

After the field check, the district immigration office will hand over the data to the provincial office. “We cannot predict how long that part will take. It could be a month or more,” he said.

The Central Jakarta Immigration Office, however, said it was not yet accepting applications.

Immigration spokesman Maryoto Sumadi apologized for the different treatments foreigners received at district offices.

“We are not yet finished with the awareness campaign for the new law,” he said.

Maryoto also said that even though the new law allowed holders of temporary and permanent residency permits to work or own businesses, separate work permit requirements would still be regulated by the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry. A spokesman there, Suhartono, said his office was still in the process of revising its regulations to match the new Immigration Law.

“But the requirements will still be the same,” he said.

Going Around the System?

A seasoned “agent” at the Central Jakarta Immigration Office, who only wanted to be identified as Raja, told the Globe that to get a Kitap, one should be prepared to pay through the nose.

“If you want to use an agent, the cost to get a Kitap could be as high as Rp 30 million,” Raja said. “You can just sit back and we will deliver it to you. You only need to come to the immigration office once to get your picture taken.”

Raja recommended people apply for the permit themselves, but still, one has to prepare for “additional fees.”

“You will basically need to get your application through three different offices: district, provincial and ministerial,” Raja said. “For the first two, you need to give between Rp 250,000 and Rp 500,000 over the counter. But at the directorate general in Kuningan, you have to pay around Rp 5 million, but you can negotiate.”

Refusing to pay these fees, he continued, could affect the application. “Of course if you ask staff here they will say that they know nothing about the prices, but none of them will object if you give them money,” he continued. “It also gets them to approve your application faster.”

APAB’s Recommendations for the Implementing Regulations

1. Kitap holders from mixed marriages should get a special registration number to differentiate them from business owners.
2. The term “relative through marriage” should be clarified.
3. Foreigners married to an Indonesian for over two years should be able to get their Kitap without first applying for a Kitas.
4. Sponsorship should no longer be needed for foreign spouses.
5. For those mixed-marriage couples who have already
been married for a long period of time, a statement from the foreign spouse’s embassy of
a good record and marital status should no longer be necessary.

A Refresher on the Key Points

1. Foreign spouses of Indonesian citizens can get a permanent residency permit (Kitap) after two years of marriage. They will only be required to report to the immigration office once every five years — a free service — instead of the annual renewal currently required.
2. If they have been married to an Indonesian citizen for at least 10 years, foreigners can stay in the country even after a divorce.
3. Foreign spouses will be allowed to work in the country without a sponsor.
4. Others who are eligible for a Kitap are:
• Children from mixed marriages, regardless of their nationality. However, these children still have to choose a citizenship at the age of 18, with three years of possible extension. If they choose foreign citizenship, they have to apply for a temporary or permanent residency permit.
• Foreigners who have held a Kitas for three years, less than the five years previously required, can get a Kitap.
• Former holders of Indonesian citizenship.
5. Foreigners with a Kitap who leave Indonesia for long periods of time will not lose the permit as long as they obtain multiple re-entry permits.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Pancasila - 5 Principles (Ideals) of Indonesia




The State Ideology - "Pancasila"
The Indonesian Government bases its ruling philosophy on the Pancasila or Five Principles as laid down in the Preamble to the country’s 1945 Constitution. 

They are:

1. Belief in one God.
2. Just and civilized humanity.
3. Unity of Indonesia (through diversity of its peoples).
4. Sovereignty of the people.
5. Social Justice.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Can I Buy An Apartment or Condo in Jakarta ?

"Hi Brian, I just recently moved to Jakarta and am on a TDY assignment with the State Department, and it looks like I am going to be in country for a number of years.  Rather than flushing the money down the toilet on rent each month or on a yearly basis, I am thinking about buying an apartment or condominium unit in Jakarta as an investment.  I've read differing opinions on whether or not a foreigner can actually own property here and thought I'd contact you for your take on it.  Thanks, Tasha"

When it comes to transactions involving real property it is critical to have a clear and correct understanding of the terminology and legal consequences involved.  Do not rely primarily on secondary sources of information such as on forum sites; READ THE ACTUAL LAW.  However, there are some reasonably accurate elucidations out there.  One good source may be found at:


People here in Indonesia use the terms "buy", "own", "purchase" incorrectly and all too loosely when referring to a foreign national having an interest in real property.  At the present time, under Indonesian law A FOREIGN NATIONAL CANNOT OWN LAND IN INDONESIA in a absolute or freehold estate form of real property ownership, also known as "fee simple". A freehold estate in Indonesia is called "Hak Milik."  A foreigner cannot own real property in Indonesia in a freehold estate form of ownership; therefore a foreigner simply cannot truly "own" property here in Indonesia.

A foreigner, however, can have only a LEASEHOLD ESTATE interest in real property. A leasehold estate in Indonesia is known as "Hak Pakai" and it is NOT true and absolute ownership of the property as in a freehold estate or fee simple form of property ownership.  It cannot be bequeathed to an heir.  

When it comes to apartments or condominiums (Strata Title) a foreign national can only have a leasehold interest in the unit but cannot truly "own" it or "buy" it.  The foreigner simply does not and cannot truly own it. The leasehold period granted to foreigners is 25 years (initial term), can be extended by another 25 years, then renewed for a second and final time for a period of 20 years; making the tolling of the leasehold estate a total of 70 years (25 + 25 + 20 = 70 years).  There is not true ownership in this arrangement and the leasehold interest cannot be passed on to an heir. The foreigner does NOT own it!

Regarding apartments there is also a "Convertible Lease" Agreement which states that if and when the lessee can legally own the unit (such as if and when Indonesian law allows foreigners to own real property); then the lessee and lessor will be required to sign a Deed of Sale & Purchase, and title shall be transferred to the foreign national when Indonesian laws allow ownership of property by foreigners.  During this interim period however, the person DOES NOT own the unit, and title remains in the name of the builder or developer - which for obvious reasons is highly risky and not advisable.

Regarding the use of an Indonesian "nominee" or intermediary to buy the property in their name, or the use of a "PMA" (Foreign Direct Investment Company) as a way of circumventing the restriction and prohibition of foreigners owning real property in Hak Milik, a summary of these 2 methods can be found at:


If a foreigner is married to an Indonesian and tries to buy the property in the Indonesian spouse's sole name to get around holding deed or title to the property in only a leasehold estate, this creates a legal quagmire.   See my previous article with more information and legal citations on this subject:


An Indonesian (man or woman spouse) in a transnational marriage may lose their right to possess land because according to the Marriage Law and Law No. 7/1984 on Cedaw ratification, every possession that is purchased by a mixed couple after they are married is considered a collective or joint possession. The couple would lose the right to own land because one of the parties was an expatriate. 
 
Under the Marriage Law No. 1/1974, both the wife and husband, irrespective of their nationality, have equal rights to family assets. But this is contradictory to the Land Law No. 5/1960, which states that foreigners cannot own land in Indonesia.
 
As a result, an Indonesian spouse (husband or wife) who married a foreigner loses their  rights as a citizen to buy land and borrow money from a bank for marrying a foreigner, UNLESS there was an existing prenuptial agreement that was entered into by the couple BEFORE the marriage.  

I know what you're thinking.... hey, I'll just draft a "prenuptial" agreement after the marriage and back-date it.  This will not work as this type of document would have to be notarized to be legally valid and binding, and Indonesian Notaries Public have been informed of this "scam" and instructed not to witness such a back-dated document.  

I know what you're thinking now, hey I'll just pay someone to do it anyway as Indonesia is a very corrupt country where graft and "bribes" are commonplace.  You could try to do that, but it is not legal or advisable to do so...   

Monday, July 18, 2011

Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC Organizes World Record Feat


The Jakarta Post   |  Mon, 07/11/2011 3:00 PM  |  Feature

Monday, May 23, 2011

Residential (Home) Swimming Pool Safety

Here's a good short video on the basics of residential (home) swimming pool safety

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Video - Indonesia Popular Music

Here are a couple videos from Kotak

Selalu Cinta (Love Always)


Pelan Pelan Saja (Just Slowly, Slowly)

Video - Discover Indonesia

(Part 1)
 

(Part 2)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Beers in Indonesia

If you like a hearty lager beer with alot of hops, a full body, and a flavorful bouquet to quench your thirst and delight your palette; then Indonesia is NOT the place for you.

When it comes to beers, Indonesia is a barren dessert devoid of choices for the beer connoisseur or aficionado with discriminating tastes.  Saint Arnold or Saint Gambrinus (the patron Saints of beer) would frown down upon Indonesia ruefully.

No

In America (and elsewhere in Europe and the UK), the micro-brew or craft beer has become ubiquitous with independent labels and brewpubs popping up across the land.

For an epicurean, a bon vivant  or a beer "sommelier", Indonesia will leave you highly unsatiated.

The choices or mainstays in beer here are basically the drab or vapid local pilsners, Bintang and Anker with a few smatterings of imports such as Carlsberg, San Miguel and Heineken.  There is a micro-brew or craft beer wannabe in Bali (Storm) that makes a vain attempt at producing a few palatable varieties, but whose results fall well short of the mark.

I have yet to see or find the "King of Beers", American Budweiser here in Indonesia; nor is it served at the American Embassy Recreation Association (AERA), a/k/a The American Club. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is available at the American Club however.

Here is what shopping for beer in Indonesia looks like:




Here is a picture below of the beer selection at an international type of market in Jakarta (as you can see, not much at all in the way of variety or choices - Budweiser is on top row so correction to what I said above about not finding it before in Jakarta):


Here is what shopping for beer looks like in the USA (pictured below).  There are entire super market size stores dedicated to the sale of of just beer, wine and other beverages. Total Wine & More (formerly Total Beverage) in Northern Virginia just outside Washington, DC (my home town) comes to mind. They carry over 2,500 different beers, from America‘s most popular beers to hard-to-find micro brews and imports. There are aisles upon aisles of beers to choose from (unlike the picture above from Indonesia with only a handful of choices and a couple small rows of choices).  It could take you well over an hour in there just to decide what beer to pick or try next. 







Apparently, the Indonesians are faint at heart when it comes to robust beers. There is also entirely too much Government restriction and tariff or taxation on imports.  

For extreme manly beers, see below for examples of brews that'll put hair on your chest (or take it off) as the case may be. LOL

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Stream TV to PC, MAC, iPad or iPhone

I haven't done any techy or IT related articles to date figuring there's a veritable cornucopia or plethora of other sites that focus on just that; but here an interesting device hitting the market that may have some applications for expats:



Article reprinted from Gizmag:

The trend toward ubiquitous global mobile media consumption without traditional boundaries and the convergence of internet and TV accelerated today with the release of the GBP229 (US$367) Hauppauge PCTV Broadway 2T which will stream TV to any iOS device (iPad or iPhone), Mac or PC with no third party app required. Whatsmore, Android support is expected to be added within six weeks.

The Broadway 2T is standalone (no computer needed), connects to your wired or wifi network and contains dual DVB-T tuners to enable streaming of a TV signal to a host device either over a home network or the internet, and hence to anywhere in the world. The 2T also has USB and video inputs so you can stream video from a USB device or set top box not to mention connecting an analog camera to create a remote home surveillance solution system viewable on an iPad or iPhone (big wow factor).

Just how the media measurement companies intend to deal with devices such as the Broadway 2T will be interesting to watch. Expats the world over might be watching local television in their home country on their internet devices in foreign countries, but their patronage will be irrelevant to most of the advertisers who are paying for that audience. It's not a problem yet, but it looks like becoming that way quite soon as media footprints lose their definition.

When mobile, your TV and content is accessed via your web browser. The 2T will also enable remote control of home content such as scheduling recordings and playing pre-recorded content.
The Broadway 2T utilises 802.11n wireless and its sophisticated MPEG-4 H.264 hardware compression codec ensure minimal demand on mobile device battery life.





====================================================================

Here is another device:


Friday, April 15, 2011

Indonesian Haute Couture

Article from the JakartaGlobe April 1, 2011 (no April Fool's joke however)

Fashion world mourns the passing of pioneer Peter Sie. The man who introduced haute couture to Indonesia’s fashion scene, Peter Sie, passed away early on Friday.

Born Sie Tiam Le, Peter began working as a tailor in 1954 after graduating from the Vakschool Voor Kleermaker and Coupeuse in The Hague. As his business took off, Peter went from simply taking orders for garments to creating his own designs.

His loyal customers included the family members of Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno.

Musa Widyatmodjo, a senior fashion designer and co-founder of the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association (APPMI), said Peter really cared about Indonesia’s young fashion designers and was always willing to share his vast knowledge with aspiring designers.

“Last year, I met him at the Jakarta Food and Fashion Festival at Kelapa Gading Mall,” Musa told the Jakarta Globe. “He told me he was very happy to see young Indonesian designers emerging in the fashion world. He was pleased to see that the Indonesian fashion world was becoming a huge industry these days. Peter Sie was a great figure in the fashion industry. We will miss him very much.” 

Indonesian Haute Couture ? (High Fashion)

Eclats and plaudits go out to Indonesian fashion designer Tex Savario (a/k/a Rio) for his haute couture design for Lady Gaga which appeared in the May 2011 edition of Harper's Bazar Magazine in America.




A gown by young Indonesian designer, Tex Saverio, adorns Lady Gaga in the May edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine.

Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti announced it on his Twitter account that Gaga was donning the unique gown by Tex Saverio, also known as Rio, for the fashion spread.

In the photo published on Harper's Bazaar's Web site, Gaga wears the transparent black gown with ornate detailing.

On average, a piece by Rio goes for Rp 15 million ($1,700), and the gown worn by Gaga is priced at Rp 33 million.

Rio first burst onto the scene at a joint fashion show called Rejuvenate in July 2010, sending shock waves through the Jakarta fashion world and the international fashion blogging community.

Tex Saverio likes to experiment to produce his one-of-a-kind gowns. So far, he has adorned his gowns with feathers and faux leather with ornate details crafted by graphic designers. His style embraces a melange of technological and theatrical techniques.

Read Rio's profile on the Jakarta Globe here.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Indonesian Expatriate Spouses - NEW IMMIGRATION LAW

As reported in the JakartaGlobe April 8, 2011

Here are the key provisions of the new immigration bill that was passed by the Indonesian House of Representatives on April 7, 2011 which will affect expat spouses (women or men) who are married to  Indonesian nationals (men or women).  The new law is expected to be signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (Pres SBY) within 30 days.

  • Foreign spouses of Indonesian citizens can get a permanent residence permit (Kitap) after two years of marriage. They will only be required to report to the immigration office once every five years — a free service — instead of the annual renewal currently required.
  • If they have been married to an Indonesian citizen for at least 10 years, foreigners can stay in the country even after a divorce.
  • Foreign spouses will be allowed to work in the country.
  • Children from mixed marriages will automatically get a Kitap regardless of their nationality. Under the current arrangement, these children have to choose a citizenship at the age of 18. If they choose to adopt foreign citizenship, they have to apply for a residence permit.
  • Foreign investors who have worked in Indonesia for three years, less than the five years now required, can get a Kitap.
  • Former holders of Indonesian citizenship can get a Kitap.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hold your horses everyone.... this may not all get implemented as expeditiously as eager expat spouses (including myself) would hope for.  Additionally, I am relying upon secondary sources of information (press and media) as above and have not actually read the primary source (THE LAW) itself.

Moreover, we'll have to wait and see what modified version or draft President SBY actually signs into law, assuming that he does so and does not veto this Bill.  The Bill does not officially become law until SBY signs off on it; so we'll have to wait and see what he actually does sign off on and then read exactly what the law stipulates or says.

Furthermore, after a law is passed, supporting governmental regulations need to be codified or enacted in order to carry out the new law from an administrative point of view.  Such supporting governmental regulations (or administrative law) should ideally be enacted within one (1) year of a new law being passed.  Indonesian legislative representatives, however, have been known to be dilatory and miss deadlines.  The government has been told to speed things up, however.  

So, expat spouses married to an Indonesian who are hoping now to not have to renew their KITAS annually, obtain Permanent Residency (PR) status, and obtain a work permit are not out of the woods quite yet on all this.

In my case, my KITAS (limited stay permit) expires on September 8, 2011.  I will have been married to an Indonesian for two (2) years on August 30, 2011 one week prior to my KITAS expiring.  Does this mean that I will not have to renew my KITAS and will be eligible to alternatively apply for a PR under the new law and will be able to work after September 8, 2011 (which is the purpose and intent of this new law) ???   Unfortunately for me the answer is, NO !  It doesn't look like things will be in place administratively for this to take place in the next couple of months, and I will be forced to renew my KITAS until this all gets finalized and worked out.... 

Kudos go out to the Indonesian Mixed Marriage Society (Perkawinan Campuran Indonesia - or "PerCa") for their past, and continuing, grassroots lobbying efforts to see this all come to fruition and become a reality for so many cross cultural or trans-national married couples in Indonesia.

    Thursday, April 7, 2011

    Indonesian Expatriate Spouses - NEW IMMIGRATION BILL

    As reported in What's New Jakarta

    Immigration amendment Bill – a welcome move for expatriate spouses:

    The Indonesian House of Representatives and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights have signed off on the long-awaited Immigration bill which will – assuming it becomes law – have huge implications for foreign nationals married to Indonesians. Presentlly expatriates in mixed marriages must renew their temporary residence permits annually – a costly and time-consuming experience. It will also allow foreign spouses to seek employment in Indonesia which should go a long way towards ensuring that unions are both financially secure and sustainable. As with most things awaiting legislative approval there will probably be much water flow down Jakarta's rivers before we see this bill come to fruition.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As reported in the JakartaGlobe March 31, 2011

    A long-awaited immigration bill promising significant and “humane” changes to the way expatriate spouses are treated in Indonesia is a step nearer to being ratified into law.

    The House of Representatives and Ministry of Justice and Human Rights signed off on the immigration bill on Thursday evening, meaning the bill could be adopted into law during the next week’s House plenary session.

    Eva Kusuma Sundari, a member of the House Commission III which oversees legal affairs, said expatriates — both men and women — who marry Indonesians would almost certainly automatically gain permanent residence.  The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator said the law would mean expatriates would not have to renew their limited stay permits (kitas) each year.  Eva said the bill also allowed foreigners to remain in the country after a divorce, provided he or she had been married for 10 years.  This was for the sake of any children the couple may have, she said. Another key point was that foreign spouses would be able to work in the country, Eva said.

    Minister of Justice and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar said he was happy the “humane” bill was now ready to be passed.  He said that Indonesia was attempting to treat foreigners in Indonesia the same as Indonesians would be treated by other countries.

    He hoped all lawmakers in the House would approve the bill.

    A fuller story will follow.
     

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    UPDATE:  As reported in the JakartaGlobe April 7, 2011

    Indonesian women have welcomed the passage of the Immigration Law that boosts the rights of foreign spouses of Indonesian citizens.

    Isabelle Mace Panggabean, 31, who is half French and half Indonesian and married to an Indonesian, hailed the new law, saying said she would now be able to gain permanent residency.  The mother of one said she would now no longer have to extend her Kitas every year and would be able to work to provide for her family if her husband ever became sick.  Isabelle said she was concerned the Immigration Law would never be passed given the number of bills being discussed in the House.

    Juliani Wistarina Luthan, an Indonesian citizen who has been married to a Japanese man for 15 years, thanked the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) for passing the “reformist” law.  She said her husband would no longer need to extend his Kitas.

    Marissa said she and her foreign-born husband were happy with the law.  “Because we don’t have children yet, this is definitely going to be good for their future. Instead of their nationality being decided for them by default, now they have their own voice.”  She said her husband would also be spared the “hassle” of having to renew his temporary residence permit (Kitas) every year.  She said she was pleased the DPR had finally done something right.

    Fahri Hamzah, deputy chairman of House Commission III, which hammered out the law together with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, described the passage as a “breakthrough.”  House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso described the law as “monumental” and one of the most important pieces of legislation passed by the current batch of legislators.

    The law grants permanent residency to the foreign spouses of Indonesian citizens after two years of marriage, requiring them to report to the Immigration Department once every five years.  The law also allows foreign spouses to remain the country if they are divorced after ten years of marriage. They can also work.

    Minister of Justice and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar said the law allowed children from mixed marriages permanent residency even after the age of 18.  “ We want to give protection to Indonesian citizens and their foreign families and relatives. They are the children of Indonesia. Their [foreign] wives and husbands are part of our extended family,” he said.  Patrialis said the law also meant that foreign investors could now gain permanent residency after three years, down from the current five.  The law goes into force in a maximum of 30 days, he said.

    The law contains no details about property ownership, which is still being debated under a separate bill.

    Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari told the Jakarta Globe that Citizenship Law provided the legal framework for foreigners wishing to become Indonesian citizens.

    Julie Mace, a representative of the International Rainbow Alliance and the Indonesian Mixed Marriage Society, said they would wait to see how the law was implemented in the field.  She said she hoped that the concerned government ministries would implement the law, particularly the rights of foreign spouses to work in the country.

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    UPDATE:   Editorial posted on the JakartaGlobe April 9, 2011

    In a historic decision this week, the House of Representatives passed landmark legislation that will go a long way toward protecting Indonesian families and strengthening society as a whole.


    In any society, the family is the building block for a strong foundation. If families struggle to stay together, society will be weak and, in turn, the nation will be vulnerable. The inverse is true if families can stay united.

    The legislation that passed on Thursday allows foreign spouses of Indonesians to live here without having to apply annually to renew their permits. Such permits cost money and, though normally approved, add a certain amount of tension in families.

    By removing this uncertainty and treating foreigners who choose to live here and build their lives here as part of the larger Indonesian family, the law will help to strengthen the social fabric. It will make each of us stronger individually while uniting us as a whole.

    The law is an important first step in a long process. The issue is not whether foreigners married to Indonesians are allowed to work and live freely here, it is about our attitudes; about our willingness to engage with the world and about our commitment to support and protect all Indonesian families.

    The next logical step must be to allow foreign nationals married to Indonesians to acquire property in the country. According to lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari , the House will deal with this issue in the upcoming revision of the Agrarian Law.

    We urge legislators to move quickly on this piece of legislation and provide the peace of mind that all Indonesians family deserve. By being allowed to own property, not only will they be assured of having a roof over their heads, they will sink even deeper roots in this country, which will ensure further stability for the family unit.

    We have made significant progress in what has been a long journey, but it is not yet over. More can and must be done to ensure that every individual who chooses to make this country their home feels truly welcomed and made to feel a part of society. If we can achieve this, it will enrich us enormously.

    Saturday, April 2, 2011

    Poisonous Snakes of Indonesia

    Here is some VERY useful and basic information for identifying the Poisonous Snakes of Indonesia borrowed from other sources on the web.   For full text and additional pictures see also the links below:

    http://www.kostich.com/venomous_snakes.htm

    http://www.expat.or.id/medical/poisonoussnakes.html

    Coral Snake -- Ular Cabe





    This rare burrowing snake only reaches a length of about 50 cm. His slim back body has a line down its length with yellow markings on the small, flat head the belly is black and white checkered. The tail has a red-orange tip like chili pepper or a 'cabe'. He is shy and usually unwilling to bite. The venom is neurotoxic.

    Banded Krait -- Ular Welang & Ular Weling



    Both the Malayan and the Banded Krait are black with yellow bands and may be from 1-2 meters in length. They are found in or near paddies and bamboo groves. If disturbed they jerk their body and attempt to hide their head in the coils of their body. Due to their small head, shyness, and reluctance to bite, the chances of a fatal bite is slim, unless one treads on the startled snake. Their neurotoxic bite causes little pain or swelling but can produce muscle weakness, loss of coordination and eventual respiratory paralysis.

    Black Spitting Cobra -- Ular Sendok

    King Cobra -- Ular Raja 

    There are two species of cobra--- the king cobra, usually a resident of the paddies, and the Black Spitting Cobra, comfortable in semi-urban areas. Both are aggressive if disturbed. The Cobra is easily recognized when he rises and spreads his hood. The colors of the snake range from black to brown to olive. Both can reach a length of 4 meters. Only the Spitting Cobra, sometimes seen in Jakarta, can eject a spray of venom for several feet, aiming at the enemy's eyes. This can cause temporary blindness but can be removed with repeated rinsing with sterile water. The nuerotoxic bite of either can cause pain and swelling with general muscle weakness following and eventual respiratory paralysis.

    Malayan Pit Viper -- Ular Tanah

    Green Pit Viper -- Ulat Bankai Laut or Ular Hijau Ekor Mira

    Both the Malayan Pit Viper and the Green Pit Viper are found around Jakarta. Each has a distinctive triangular head shape, stocky body, and a length of about 80 cm. Each has the ability to jump with great force when attacking. The Malayan Pit Viper is reddish brown with triangular markings on his sides and the Green Pit Viper is bright green with a distinct red tail. The Malayan Pit Viper rattles with his tail before striking as a warning. Vipers are nocturnal and can be easily be avoided by staying away from fields and rocky areas. The Hemotoxic bite causes immediate pain, swelling, bleeding, and tissue damage.

    Blue Temple Viper

    A tree snake whose bite is haematotoxic and indeed very dangerous. The affected limb of snake bite victim must be completely immobilized and a stretch bandage should be applied. The victim then needs to be transferred to the nearest hospital or emergency room for observation of signs of invenemation. We do not recommend to use antivenin, unless the patient is developing symptoms of invenemation, since most snake bites do not inject significant amounts of venom during a bite.
    Manipulation of the wound, suction, squeezing, massage, cutting the skin or application of ointments or remedies only increases the absorption of the venom, and should never be attempted. A polyvalent antivenom (poly-antivenom) is available at the Denpasar General Hospital in Bali, and at the International SOS clinics in Cipete, Kuningan and Bali.

    Sea Snakes



    Toxic Caterpillars -- Ulat Bulu

    Note: Not in the snake category, but just to make you aware, many varieties of caterpillars in Indonesia have an irritant in their fur. AVOID touching any caterpillars (ulat bulu), or the leaves which they crawl upon, in Indonesia as skin contact can result in swelling, welts and severe irritations.

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    Identification

    It is clear from these pictures that the dangerous snakes of Indonesia come in all shapes and colours and include some very common species. The problem is that they also vary in appearance within a species. Cobras and Colubrid species can vary a lot in colour depending on age, Habitat and moulting stage. This can cause fatal mistakes.

    Effect of Bites

    Bites from Cobras and Vipers are very painful and leave you in no doubt that you have a problem, but bites from Kraits, Sea snakes and Colubrid snakes have almost no immediate effect and can cause fatal mistake number two; ‘it doesn’t hurt so it must be a harmless species’ In the case of Kraits  by the time you start to get symptoms there will be nothing a hospital can do. In the case of the most dangerous colubrid species, the serious symptoms often take as long as day to appear. The clinical effects range from paralysis (Kraits and sea snakes) to blood disorders such as excessive clotting or bleeding (vipers and Colubrids) or in some case, a mixture of these. (Some vipers and Cobras).

    Treatment

    Because of the problems with Identification and lack of symptoms ALL snakebites by wild snakes should be treated as serious. People bitten by pythons may disagree but I know many people who have misidentified pit vipers as baby pythons!

    The following recommended course of action has been composed from surveys done in India and Asia including data on survival factors from tens of thousands of cases.

    1)  Don’t waste time with fist aid, tourniquets, sucking out the poison and the like. Get help, you will 
         need to get to hospital quickly. You should rest as much as possible so you will need someone to 
         transport you unless the hospital is close.

    2)  Go to a modern, well equipped hospital with the following facilities: Intensive care unit with 
         equipment for assisted breathing, heart monitoring and emergency resuscitation. This is to deal 
         with the effects of respiratory and cardiac failure resulting from cobra or krait bites. You will also 
         need facilities to deal with transplants of blood, plasma, etc and dialysis.  This is in the even of 
         bites by vipers or colubrids which can cause kidney failure.

    3)  Get as much information as possible about the snake, Have someone find it,  kill it and bring it 
         with you if possible but failing that, get pictures and try to identify it (you may need help wit
         this!) Hospitals in Indonesia are not usually staffed by snakebite experts and they will need all the 
         help they can get. 

    4)  Antivenin (antivenom) should only be used if it is made from the same species and
         comes from the same country as the snake. Antivenin treatment is risky since it usually causes a
         severe allergic reaction and it is only worth the risk if it is done exactly right.