Govt to issue rules on Aceh reconstruction<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected in the next few
\ndays to sign a number of regulations that should provide a legal
\nframework for rehabilitation and reconstruction programs in Aceh
\nand Nias.<\/p>\n
The regulations will enable the government to propose and
\nallocate reconstruction funds during the upcoming revision of the
\n2005 state budget at the House of Representatives next month.<\/p>\n
\"The government needs to issue the regulations to make sure
\nthat the reconstruction of Aceh and Nias is conducted under a
\nstrong legal framework and is accounted for,\" State Secretary
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra announced at the State Palace on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The announcement came on the heels of the Supreme Audit Agency
\n(BPK) findings that billions of rupiah in relief money for Aceh
\nand Nias was still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n
One of the edicts will be a presidential regulation on the
\nreconstruction blueprint for Aceh and Nias, another is the
\ngovernment regulation in lieu of law on the formation of the
\nagency for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh and Nias and
\nthe final one is a presidential decree on the members of that
\nagency. All of them are set to be finalized by the end of next
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Yusril said the government completed the blueprint last week
\nafter consulting with and getting approval from people in Aceh
\nand Nias, some of whom were deeply affected by the Dec. 26
\ncatastrophe. Over 126,000 have been confirmed killed in the
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
The blueprint spells out a comprehensive, wide-ranging
\nredevelopment program, which prioritizes the community, economy,
\ninfrastructure and administrative institutions.<\/p>\n
It will also provide guidelines regarding the disbursement of
\nthe funds and their accountability, with the state budget and
\ninternational donors being the main sources of the funding.<\/p>\n
Yusril said the government was seeking political support from
\nHouse of Representatives factions for the draft regulations with
\na number of major political factions at the House of
\nRepresentatives, although it was not mandatory.<\/p>\n
\"From the discussion, we expect the House to agree with the
\nreconstruction process and approve the government regulation in
\nlieu of law on the reconstruction agency,\" said Yusril.<\/p>\n
The government also expects the House to support the financing
\nof the reconstruction projects, which is earmarked at some Rp
\n46.1 trillion (US$4.9 billion) over the next five years.<\/p>\n
Yusril said the government opted to issue a government
\nregulation in lieu of law for the reconstruction agency because
\nof its emergency nature.<\/p>\n
\"The reconstruction agency is an emergency body tasked to
\nimmediately restore all the damaged facilities in Aceh and Nias.
\nWe want to be able to effectively coordinate the implementation
\nand financing of the reconstruction programs,\" said Yusril.<\/p>\n
The agency, which is expected to feature a combination of
\nprofessionals, former bureaucrats and civil servants, will
\nconsist of three separate divisions -- an advisory division, a
\nsupervision division and an implementation division.<\/p>\n
The agency's term of service remains a question, but the
\ngovernment expects it to last up to five years.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-issue-rules-on-aceh-reconstruction-1447893297",
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