Acehnese protest foreign aid<\/p>\n
Nani Farida
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nBanda Aceh<\/p>\n
A coalition of non-governmental organizations demanded on
\nWednesday that the government reject foreign aid offered for
\nreconstruction programs in the war-torn province, fearing its
\nmisuse by corrupt officials and an increase in the country's
\nmassive debt burden.<\/p>\n
The protesters, from the group A Peaceful Aceh Without Debt,
\nstaged a demonstration lasting about an hour in the provincial
\ncapital, Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
They displayed banners that read: \"Aceh is Rich, Why Ask for
\nDebt?\" and \"Reject Foreign Debt\".<\/p>\n
\"Aceh administration cannot even manage its provincial budget,
\nlet alone that much money,\" said Kamal Farza, coordinator of
\nPeople's Solidarity Against Corruption (SAMAK).<\/p>\n
Indonesia's creditor countries, including the U.S., the
\nEuropean Union and Japan, agreed in Tokyo early in December last
\nyear to assist the reconstruction of Aceh should peace return to
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
A peace agreement was signed by Jakarta and the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) on Dec. 9, paving the way for creditors to start
\ndisbursing aid.<\/p>\n
No amount was pledged. But last week, the World Bank said it
\nwould provide nearly US$10 million this year in support of the
\npeace agreement.<\/p>\n
According to Kamal, the government and foreign creditors
\nplanned to inject into the province around Rp 24 trillion (about
\n$2.69 billion) in development funds.<\/p>\n
But he doubted that the money would benefit the people here.<\/p>\n
\"New debt will only become a breeding ground for corruption,\"
\nhe said, while also questioning officials' ability to manage
\npublic funds.<\/p>\n
\"NAD's government has neither the capacity, credibility nor
\naccountability,\" he said, referring to the province by its
\nofficial name, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD).<\/p>\n
He accused the government of \"selling\" Aceh to creditor
\ncountries to tap more loans at the meeting of the Consultative
\nGroup on Indonesia (CGI) in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"The improved security condition will be a reason for the
\ngovernment to take on more debt,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The CGI represents Indonesia's main creditor countries and on
\nWednesday it agreed to extend $2.7 billion in loans. The amount
\nis lower than the $3.14 billion during the previous CGI meeting
\nin Nov. 2001.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's total foreign debt currently amounts to about $70
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
Demonstrators said that if the international community
\ngenuinely wanted to help Aceh, it should allow Indonesia to use
\nthis year's foreign debt interest payment of Rp 80.87 trillion is
\ntrillion correct? please check to rebuild the province instead.<\/p>\n
\"It's better than taking on new debts,\" Kamal said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehnese-protest-foreign-aid-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }