Friendly Spanish win Acehnese hearts<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Yanti loved playing near a sports field in Lampineung, Banda
\nAceh, just to watch the Spanish troops help with relief efforts
\nin the tsunami-hit city. And she would wait for a treat.<\/p>\n
\"They (the soldiers) used to hand out candy and toys,\" smiled
\nthe 11 year old.<\/p>\n
The soldiers also won the hearts of students of SMU 4 senior
\nhigh school, located near the soccer field where the Spanish
\nmilitary has set up base, since the soldiers helped clear their
\nschool of mud and dirt deposited by the tsunami.<\/p>\n
Spain was among the more than 30 nations that sent armed
\nforces personnel to Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to help with relief
\nand reconstruction efforts in the wake of the Dec. 26 disaster
\nthat killed more than 125,000 people in the country.<\/p>\n
In provincial capital Banda Aceh, the Spanish troops, who left
\nthe country on Monday, left a deep impression among residents,
\nespecially those living in Syiah Kuala and Cot Paya districts.<\/p>\n
While they were busy clearing dirt and mud left by the tidal
\nwaves, the soldiers remained friendly and smiled and waved at
\npassing residents.<\/p>\n
Their friendliness was warmly welcomed by those living in fear
\never since martial law was declared in the province in 2003 and
\nthen changed to a state of civil emergency last year.<\/p>\n
While they were in Aceh, the Spanish soldiers helped clean up
\nschools, repair mosques, clean up debris and mud, install a water
\npurifier plant and sent doctors to shelters for displaced persons
\nand provided thousands liters of clean water, food and 2,000 toys
\nfor children.<\/p>\n
For the relief operation, they arrived with three helicopters,
\ntwo landing craft, a battalion of engineers, one combat support
\nunit, signal units, dozens of trucks and a civil military
\ncooperation team. The Spaniards and their equipment arrived on
\nthe Galicia ship.<\/p>\n
\"We traveled across a third of the Earth to reach Aceh and
\nwe're happy to be here,\" said Col. Antonio Fernandez from the
\nGalicia.<\/p>\n
The ship traveled 9,656 kilometers and took 23 days to reach
\nBanda Aceh on Feb. 9.<\/p>\n
One Spanish diver, Sgt. First Class Justo Jesus Picallo
\nMartinez, 36, died during a routine underwater operation to
\ninspect the hull of the Galicia.<\/p>\n
The Spanish troops, who were in Aceh for 41 days, held a
\nfarewell ceremony on board the ship before departing on Monday.<\/p>\n
Capt. Antonio Fernandez said that they were leaving even
\nthough the Indonesian government was allowing foreigners allowed
\nto remain in Aceh for another two months.<\/p>\n
It's not only local residents who regret their departure, the
\nSpanish soldiers feel the same way.<\/p>\n
Iswati, a Spanish citizen of Indonesian descent who was part
\nof the humanitarian mission team and worked as a translator for
\nthe soldiers, felt sad to leave.<\/p>\n
\"I love the Acehnese, they're friendly. And the food is hot.
\nIn Spain, we rarely find chili,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/friendly-spanish-win-acehnese-hearts-1447893297",
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