Day of arrival in Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
It is believed that the world discovered the spice islands
\nstarting with ACEH, in the Acehnese language. It is said that
\nACEH is an acronym of the people's ethnic composition -- Arab,
\nChinese, European and Hindi.<\/p>\n
The tsunami changed \"everything\", particularly in the city of
\nBanda Aceh. Before it was a quiet little town with many beautiful
\nbeaches (Ujong Batee, Lam Puuk and Lhok Nga) with clean blue
\nwaters, white sands and sunsets.<\/p>\n
A wise man Azmi makes his confession to me, that he misses the
\nserenity and purity in the quietness of Banda Aceh. However, he
\nsaid, the overwhelming presence of others is necessary and
\nappreciated.<\/p>\n
The earthquake- and tsunami-generated rubble of Banda Aceh is
\nleft \"as is\". The rebuilding master plan is expected to top
\nUS$4.5 billion over five years, assuming the promised
\ninternational aid is realized. The money is scheduled to be
\nreleased late March.<\/p>\n
My Garuda Airlines flight to Banda Aceh has its own unique
\nmemories. My on board neighbor was a hijab-clad World Health
\nOrganization official, Dr. Rossi. Across the aisle was a young
\nman, who I later came to know as Yusri. After having lost all
\nfamily members and severely injuring his left eye, Yusri was
\nreturning to his native town of Banda Aceh for the first time
\nfrom Jakarta after a two-month treatment.<\/p>\n
Banda Aceh's airport was designed for receiving only a limited
\nnumber of flights a day. Its baggage conveyor belt was no wider
\nthan the check-in counter belt at a major grocery store in
\nAmerica. Over 100 flights came in immediately after the tsunami
\nhit tapering down now to about 10 a day.<\/p>\n
Outside the airport, there was a display of big and even
\nbigger cars with a collage of mind-boggling logos on them. Our
\nhosts Pos Keadilan Peduli Ummat (PKPU), or the Center for Justice
\nand Care for Muslims and Dompet Dhuafa (DD), or Wallet of the
\nPoor) graciously got us into cars to leave the airport.
\nOur solemn tour began with a visit to one of the first of many
\nmass graves barely few kilometers from the airport.<\/p>\n
This particular mass grave housed \"20,000 victims\" of the
\nearthquake and tsunami disaster, buried a day after the tragedy
\non Dec. 26, 2004.<\/p>\n
This solemn experience holds no parallel in my memory. Never
\nin my adult life, have I cried so easily. I questioned myself
\nlooking at the football field size mass grave, how do I pray for
\n\"20,000 people?\" My imagination led me to see a wailing 70-year-
\nold grandfather loosing his grip on his seven-year-old grand-
\ndaughter and a newly wed Acehnese daughter frantically crying for
\nher beloved. I cried more, until my host gently tapped my
\nshoulder and reminded me, \"today is your day of arrival in Banda
\nAceh.\"<\/p>\n
SHAKEEL SYED, Vice President, www.Islam.org, California, U.S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/day-of-arrival-in-banda-aceh-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }