JP\/5\/BRR<\/p>\n
Aceh reconstruction body comes under fire<\/p>\n
Syahruddin Hamzah
\nAntara\/Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
After initially high expectations, survivors of the tsunami in
\nAceh have started to criticize the Rehabilitation and
\nReconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR).<\/p>\n
The survivors, who still live in decrepit shelters and camps,
\nsay the agency has been slow at bringing about reconstruction and
\nrehabilitation in the tsunami-ravaged areas of Aceh. \"We
\ninitially looked forward to the BRR's establishment, but the body has
\nfailed to live up to our expectations,\" said Anwarudin, a
\ndisplaced person in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
While the survivors do not know the reasons for the slow pace
\nof reconstruction, they do know that most of them have not been
\nprovided with the promised houses thus far.<\/p>\n
With the government's commitment to building houses for the
\nrefugees unrealized, the BRR has sparked ridicule from the public
\nwho now call it the 'badan rawon-rawon' (out-for-a-stroll
\nagency). Efforts now need to be made to restore the BRR's
\ntarnished image.<\/p>\n
According to Anwaruddin, people are not only disappointed with
\nthe sluggish performance of the BRR, but also what they see as
\nimproprieties given current living conditions in Aceh.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example the highly salaries paid to BRR
\nemployees, some of whom earn the same as a local legislative
\ncouncillor at Rp 30 million.<\/p>\n
A recent report from the Aceh Anticorruption Movement (Gerak)
\nsays BRR chairman Kuntoro Mangkusubroto is paid Rp 75 million a
\nmonth (US$7,500).<\/p>\n
\"We heard that they are paid very well, but we're not sure
\nexactly,\" Anwaruddin said.<\/p>\n
During visits to the tsunami-hit zones, the BRR officials
\narrive in new cars while the refugees have to live in uncertainty
\ndue to the unreliable payment of the paltry Rp 3,000-per-person
\nsubsistence allowance.<\/p>\n
However, BRR chief executive Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said that
\nthe reconstruction process was proceeding smoothly as scheduled.
\nUp to 11,000 new houses are being built right now, and another
\n30,000 houses will be completed by the end of this year. \"People
\ncan scoff at the BRR, but they should also understand that the
\nreconstruction process in Aceh is proceeding and that some of the
\nrefugees have already moved into their new houses on a permanent
\nbasis,\" said Kuntoro.<\/p>\n
The main obstacle faced by people to date concerned the status
\nof the land on which their houses were being built because of the
\nlack of complete ownership documents and proofs, most of which
\nwere lost or destroyed in the tsunami. Despite that, Kuntoro said
\nthat the BRR would build 70,000 houses for the refugees in
\ncollaboration with international relief organizations by the end
\nof 2006.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Indonesian Red Cross in Aceh, Ardi Sofinar,
\nsaid that the refugees in Aceh had been living in appalling
\nconditions for the last four months, particularly those living in
\ntents as most of these were now torn.<\/p>\n
The situation had been worsened by the arrival of the rainy
\nseason.<\/p>\n
The plan to rebuild the refugees' houses, which was initially
\nslated to be completed within a year, had in fact failed and the
\nbest thing now would be to build temporary homes that satisfied
\nhealth requirements.<\/p>\n
According to Ardi, at least 116,000 residents' homes were
\ndevastated by the tsunami last year, while there were still
\n436,820 refugees still living in camps.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 75,576 refugees were living in temporary barracks,
\n67,504 in emergency tents they erected themselves, and 293,740
\nwere staying with relatives or neighbors.<\/p>\n
The tsunami reportedly killed some 130,000 people in Aceh's
\ncoastal areas.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5brr-1447899208",
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