RI asks S`pore not to require Indonesians to join draft

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has asked Singapore not to require Indonesian citizens with permanent residence status in the city state to take part in military draft programs because they would thereby risk losing their Indonesian citizenship, Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda said.

"The practice has actually been of long standing (in Singapore). But in communications with the Singapore government we have asked not to appply the obligation to join the draft to Indonesian citizens, including those having permanent residence status," the minister said here Thursday.

He said beside the request to the Singapore government, the Indonesian government would remind Indonesian citizens in Singapore that under Indonesia`s citizenship law, they would lose their citizenship if, for whatever reason, they take part in a foreign country`s military draft.

"The problem is that those who have permanent residence status tend to be in a process toward obtaining Singaporean citizenship," he said.

The Singaporean government some time ago issued a regulation obliging foreigners working in Singapore with permanent residence status to take part in its military draft programs. At least 130,000 Indonesians are currently living in the neighboring country.

Meanwhile, a professor at the law faculty of North Sumatra University (USU), Suhaidi, said international law does not allow a state to force foreign citizens to join its military draft.

"Military draft programs are only for the citizens of the country concerned. If foreigners are forced to take part, that is clearly a violation of international law," he said.

The Singaporean government should actually be able to appreciate foreigners who are domiciled on its territory and not issue regulations that create difficulties for them," Subaidi said.(*) END

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