Avoid past mistake in Aceh

Avoid past mistake in Aceh

From Republika

The government's slow handling of tsunami victims almost three weeks after the disaster struck Aceh has led to many foreign aid offers, yet the government should always be alert to foreign assistance claiming to serve humanitarian purposes.

It is fresh in our minds how East Timor broke away from the unitary state of Indonesia following external intervention in settling the issue of the country's youngest province. The government should not make the same mistake that may cause the loss of Aceh.

So far 17 countries have sent their military troops to help Aceh by providing food, medical supplies, heavy equipment, operational support and sea/air transport. The United States alone has 6,500 soldiers in Aceh, besides other troops from Britain, Australia, Spain, Japan and Singapore.

It is strange that foreign aid has entered Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam so easily while the delivery of domestic supplies for needy survivors has been more difficult.

NURUL BAYTI Bogor, West Java