From Koran Tempo

From Koran Tempo

The large number of foreign troops providing relief aid in Aceh may open the opportunity for foreign intervention. Their role should therefore be minimized by strictly implementing the government's three-phase recovery policy.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has announced the plan for tsunami-stricken Aceh, comprising three stages: Restoration, reconstruction and development. Meanwhile, local volunteers' access to the region should be facilitated.

With regard to foreign financial aid and loans, the government should be careful because we have experienced difficult times with the International Monetary Fund, resulting in economic deregulation, subsidy abolition and privatization.

Let us hope that the debt moratorium offer from donor countries will not have harmful consequences, whereas the humanitarian aid from the United States and Australia must be without any strings attached.

SUSAN ANGGRAENI Bogor, West Java