See sincerity in foreign help<\/p>\n
V.K. Chin, The Star\/Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia<\/p>\n
Indonesia's clarification that there is no fixed date for
\nforeign military personnel involved in relief work in Aceh to
\nleave its soil following the Dec. 26 tsunami should be welcomed
\nby countries whose forces are operating there.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has clarified that March 26 was
\nmerely a date by which it will hope to play a larger role in the
\nreconstruction and rebuilding of Aceh province, which is the most
\nbadly-hit region in the disaster.<\/p>\n
Actually, it may be premature for Jakarta to set any deadline
\nand three months is definitely not enough to complete the
\nrehabilitation work and it will certainly take much longer than
\nthat. In fact, this task may last for years.<\/p>\n
However, it is unlikely that the foreign troops deployed on
\nthis humanitarian mission would wish to stay longer than
\nnecessary and the terse statement by Indonesia's vice-president
\nhad given the impression that the foreign assistance was not
\nappreciated.<\/p>\n
Also, it gave the impression that the foreign troops were a
\nnuisance or that they were interfering in the internal affairs of
\nthe republic.<\/p>\n
The foreign governments engaged in the rescue work are not
\nonly using their own troops for this purpose but are providing
\nsuch services free of charge. They are doing it purely for
\nhumanitarian reasons and it is surely inappropriate to question
\ntheir motive.<\/p>\n
The services provided by the foreign troops, especially the
\nAmericans, have helped to save thousands of lives by providing
\nmedical supplies, food and clean water to the surviving victims.<\/p>\n
Their helicopters were able to reach many of the outlying
\nareas that were cut off from the rest of the province as most of
\nthe roads and infrastructure were destroyed by the tsunami.<\/p>\n
Even three weeks after the incident, it is still not certain
\nwhether the foreigners and the locals have been able to reach all
\nthe affected areas. Some Indonesian politicians and military
\nofficers may dislike the idea that foreign helicopters are having
\na free run of the area.<\/p>\n
But if they are really interested in helping their own people,
\nthen they should not harbour such ideas. If anyone has an agenda
\nit is these officials and not the foreign troops.<\/p>\n
Some of them may wish to use the disaster to demoralise the
\nAcehnese separatist movement, which has resulted in thousands of
\npeople killed in the last few decades.<\/p>\n
There is little love lost between the two parties which have
\nbeen engaged in combat for many years without any conclusive
\noutcome. Hopefully, the two duelling parties will use the
\ndisaster to settle their differences, but there are few signs
\nthat this is happening.<\/p>\n
At the same time, it is doubtful that the foreign forces would
\nwish to stay for years to help out in the massive task of just
\nrebuilding the infrastructure, such as essential facilities such
\nas hospitals and schools.<\/p>\n
These facilities are very important so that life can return to
\nnormal as quickly as possible. The Indonesians should be grateful
\nfor such foreign assistance, not that the foreign governments
\nexpect any.<\/p>\n
The disaster has evoked a strong reaction from other
\ncountries, especially the Western ones, and they would like their
\ngovernments to do as much as possible to relieve the suffering of
\nthe victims.<\/p>\n
They have themselves donated generously to the relief fund and
\nthe least the Indonesian government can do is to reciprocate by
\nmaking it easier for the foreign troops and civilians to do their
\nrelief work.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/see-sincerity-in-foreign-help-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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