Indonesia asks for region-wide early warning system<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Rendi Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several Asian countries will set up a region-wide tsunami early
\nwarning system following untold death and destruction in
\nIndonesia, as well as 10 other countries, President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono says.<\/p>\n
Speaking before the stock market and business community in
\nJakarta on Monday, he said the early warning system would be
\nplanned during a one-day summit in Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"We have been discussing with several countries in the region
\nthe plan to set up an early warning system after an earthquake
\nand tidal waves crushed Aceh and North Sumatra on Dec. 26,\"
\nSusilo said.<\/p>\n
He said the warning system would not only alert people prior
\nto future tsunamis, but also to other natural disasters,
\nincluding earthquakes and landslides, in order to minimize the
\nnumber of casualties and destruction.<\/p>\n
State Minister of National Development Planning Sri Mulyani
\nIndrawati said after a Cabinet meeting on Monday that the
\nestablishment of the early warning system would be declared by
\nworld leaders attending the upcoming emergency summit.<\/p>\n
Such a system existed in the Pacific Ocean, but needed to be
\ndeveloped to cover the Asian region, she added.<\/p>\n
\"The details of the regional early warning system will be
\ndiscussed by the Office of the State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology,\" Sri said.<\/p>\n
The summit, to be hosted by the Indonesian government, is
\naimed at gathering more international assistance, particularly
\nfor reconstruction work in the worst-hit areas, presidential
\nspokesman Dino Pati Djalal said.<\/p>\n
\"We are aiming to establish an action plan ... It's not just a
\nmatter of seeking financial aid but other kinds of assistance,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Dino said that during the summit, world leaders would hear
\npresentations by the worst-hit countries such as Indonesia, Sri
\nLanka and India, so that the donor countries could decide upon
\nthe best ways in which to support them.<\/p>\n
\"We hope there will be an effective discussion between the
\nworld leaders in the coming summit after they hear the
\ninformation directly from the suffering countries,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
The summit plan was initiated by President Susilo after the
\ncatastrophe that killed more than 94,000 people in Indonesia
\nalone.<\/p>\n
Dino said that a number of world leaders had confirmed their
\nattendance at the one-day summit, including United Nations
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan.<\/p>\n
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. special
\nenvoy Jeb Bush are scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Tuesday and
\nvisit Aceh along with Annan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-asks-for-region-wide-early-warning-system-1447893297",
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