Foreign troops help, not hurt: SBY<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Suspicions that foreign troops could be in the country for
\npolitical rather than humanitarian reasons have been brushed
\naside by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
After visiting Halim Perdanakusumah Airport to observe
\nemergency relief efforts on Saturday, President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono said there were no grounds for such a claim.<\/p>\n
"The presence of foreign servicemen here is apolitical, they
\nare conducting a humanitarian operation. After some time we will
\ntake over the operation, but for now we are grateful for their
\npresence," said the President.<\/p>\n
After the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis, large numbers of
\ntroops, including from the U.S., Australia, Japan, Singapore and
\nMalaysia, arrived in Aceh.<\/p>\n
U.S. ships are docked off Aceh's coast, while ship-based U.S.
\nNavy and Marine helicopter crews are dropping aid to villages and
\nremote areas affected by the disaster, as well as evacuating
\ninjured victims.<\/p>\n
Previously, after the imposition of martial law on May 19,
\n2003, foreigners were prohibited from visiting the province for
\nsecurity reasons. Now, though, visas on arrival have been
\nprovided for humanitarian workers wanting to help in Aceh, as
\nwell as foreign journalists.<\/p>\n
Legislator Theo L. Sambuaga urged people not to be suspicious
\nof the foreign troops' motives in assisting the tsunami victims.
\nIndonesians, he said, should be grateful as it would be hard for
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI) to help all those in need with no
\noutside help.<\/p>\n
"We need their help," stressed Theo, who is chairman of the
\nHouse Commission I for defense, foreign affairs and information,
\nas quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
"The government has coordinated their presence since day one,
\nso I am sure they are here for humanitarian reasons, not war."<\/p>\n
The President thanked the TNI on Saturday for being the
\nbackbone of the humanitarian operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"I would also like to express gratitude to the Malaysian
\ngovernment, which has allowed us to use Subang airport as one of
\nour centers of operation," Susilo said.<\/p>\n
During the visit, he took time out to see Royal Australian Air
\nForce airplanes and talked to some volunteers from Hungary,
\nslated to leave for Aceh.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Air Force bases across the country have been
\noverwhelmed by incoming aid and the arrivals of carriers from
\nother countries to assist in aid distribution.<\/p>\n
Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa said the limited
\ncapacity of the airports to receive planes and facilities, such
\nas for refueling and unloading the aid, had hampered the flow of
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
"However, we are trying to overcome these problems, and the
\nfacilities provided by neighboring countries like Malaysia have
\nbeen a great help," he said.<\/p>\n
According to Air Force data, since Dec. 27, there have been a
\ntotal of 834 sorties to Aceh from nine Air Force bases across the
\ncountry, carrying a total of 4,098,163 kilograms of aid to the
\nprovince. The Air Force also had transported a total of 17,919
\nvolunteers to support the humanitarian operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Tsunami death toll<\/p>\n
COUNTRY DEATHS INJURED<\/p>\n
Bangladesh 2<\/p>\n
East Africa 137*<\/p>\n
India 15,636**<\/p>\n
Indonesia 104,055 up to 100,000<\/p>\n
Malaysia 74 299<\/p>\n
Maldives 74<\/p>\n
Myanmar 59 45<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka 30,718 16,760<\/p>\n
Thailand 5,305 8,457<\/p>\n
TOTAL 156,060<\/p>\n
* This figure includes Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and
\nMadagascar.
\n** Indian figure includes missing and presumed dead.
\n- Number of injured is not available for all countries affected,
\nbut is expected to exceed the number of dead.<\/p>\n
Source: Reuters<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-troops-help-not-hurt-sby-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }