The Complexity of Mixed Mariage

Religion and citizenship differences are two main issues in the mixed marriage nowadays. Indonesian positive law is sense to be less protective to Indonesian Women especially on their interest on preserving their rights, both as a mother and as an individual. This is concur statement conveyed by the speakers on the seminar of “Mixed Marriage and its Legal Issue,” held by Suria Nataadmadja & Associates Law firm, on Wednesday, May, 31st 2006 at Financial Club, Graha Niaga, Jakarta.

The seminar which was hosted by Edhita Hartanto, a journalist from The Jakarta Post, stressed on the issues concerning issues as: marriage validity of unregistered marriage which presented by Mrs. Sinta Nuriah Wahid, an observer of women affairs which happen to be the former First Lady of Mr. Abdurahman Wahid (The 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia), Mrs. Retno S. Darussalam, Family Division Associate from Suria Nataadmadja Lawfirm, was presenting on the legal effect of mixed marriage and unregistered marriage from Indonesian Positive Law’s perspective, Mr. Sudhar Indopa, an officer from Civil Registry Office, was presenting on the marriage registration and its effect, Mrs. Andriani Nurdin, Deputy of Centre Jakarta District Court, presenting on the mixed marriage case study which filed before the court. And, Mrs. Priharum Juwono Sudarsono (wife of Mr. Juwono Sudarsono, Indonesian Minister of Defense), was presenting on the social effect of mixed marriage on child and women.

The seminar grasps tremendous respond, which was shown by the number of invitation attend on the day of the event. The invitation came from variety background, from legal practitioner, legal observer, representative of Foreign Affairs Department, Women’s Empowerment Ministry, and selected women’s organization representative as PIA ARDYAGARINI (Indonesian Air Force’s Wife Association), KOWANI, Aliansi Mawar Putih, Women’s Organization of Department of Defense, Women’s Central Unity Board of National Awakening Party (DPP Wanita Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa), Central Unity Board of Indonesian Women Catholic (Wanita Katholik Republik Indonesia), Women Association from Presidential Household, Women Association of Department of Justice and Human Rights, representative of Immanuel Church, Jakarta, representative of Bogor International Club, and representative from Mixed Marriage Community, such as Melati, (KPC Melati) and Srikandi. There were also a few national newspaper media reporting from the event, such as Gatra, The Jakarta Post, Media Indonesia, Info Gading Kompas Cyber Media, and electronic media such as RRI, Jak TV, and Kompas. (RSS)