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