Indonesia Conference Directory

More than 8,000 persons of Indonesian descent (PIDs) have been living in Southern Mindanao, the Philippines, for generations. Their status was formally “stateless” along with its consequences: economically poor and socially marginalized. Indonesian government handles the situation by organizing them into Indonesian Diaspora, and then improving their status into RINs (Registered Indonesian Nationals). By 2018, Indonesian government has been beginning to issue Indonesian passport for them. Nevertheless, behind the legal accomplishment, many of them were worried about the economic and social consequences. So far, most of them are holder of the Philippines Alien Certificate Registration (ACR), so they can enjoy social facilities from the host government. By owning an Indonesian passport, consequently, they will lose those supports. This paper aims to reveal that a legal approach is not enough to overcome the problem of nationality. It is because in the next five years they will face decisive crossroad: Come back to Indonesia in uncertainty or remain living there as overseas Indonesian nationals with burdensome expenses. Regarding the dilemmatic situation, the Indonesian government needs to adopt more innovative and comprehensive approaches – legal, social, cultural, and economic as well – in an integrated social empowerment program.