DPR Urges Foreign Ministry to Socialize Risks of Citizens Joining Foreign Armies

A member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), TB Hasanuddin, has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) to enhance public socialization regarding the consequences faced by Indonesian citizens who join foreign armies. This call comes in the wake of reports concerning eight Indonesian citizens allegedly joining the Russian armed forces. Hasanuddin stated that in such situations, the government does not need to prepare for decisions already made but should instead use the incident as an opportunity for evaluation and learning. "It's already too late. The most important thing is that this is an experience for the Indonesian government," he remarked in Jakarta. According to the lawmaker, Indonesian citizens who join foreign militaries automatically lose their citizenship. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he emphasized, must clearly convey this information to the public. "Some of them know that if they become soldiers, they will automatically lose their Indonesian citizenship. But there are also those who already know and deliberately do so," Hasanuddin pointed out. He further analyzed that various factors can motivate individuals to join foreign armies, including economic reasons or the desire for financial benefits. "Or there is another purpose, for example, he has worked there for a long time and then wants to become a citizen. One of the fast ways is to become a local soldier," he added. Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced that it was verifying information regarding Indonesian citizens suspected of joining the Russian armed forces, coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies through Indonesian representatives. A spokesperson for the MoFA stated that further clarification is needed on the individuals' identities, citizenship status, recruitment processes, and the nature of their involvement. However, if the involvement of Indonesian citizens is confirmed, it would be considered an individual act and not representative of the Indonesian government's policy or stance. Source: VOI English