Canada wants to take part in Aceh's reconstruction
Canada wants to take part in Aceh's reconstruction
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Canada, which is already active in providing aid and assistance
to the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in Indonesia, wants to
participate in the reconstruction of Aceh, the Speaker of the
Canadian Senate said in Jakarta.
"After the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit
Indonesia and other countries, Canada reacted very quickly by
providing millions of dollars, humanitarian aid, equipment and
manpower to help the victims of this tragedy. Now we are
anxiously waiting for the Indonesian government's plan to rebuild
these places. Canada wants to participate in the reconstruction
of Aceh," Speaker Daniel Hays told The Jakarta Post in an
interview at the end of his visit to Indonesia.
Canada is the world's seventh biggest donor with a C$645
million (US$518 million) contribution to tsunami-affected
countries in Asia.
"The Canadian government has already committed a total of
C$425 million (around US$340 million) to all the tsunami-affected
countries, including Indonesia. Canadian citizens, NGOs (non-
governmental organizations) and companies raised another C$200
million through donations. Even our provinces pledged C$20
million. Around 50 to 55 percent of our total contributions will
go to Indonesia," said Hays, a veteran politician from the ruling
Liberal Party of Canada.
Hays, who was appointed by the Governor General as Speaker in
2001, said Canada had allocated C$160 million of the total aid
for ongoing and long-term rehabilitation assistance to the
affected region during 2005-2009.
"We are ready to revise this figure, if needed. But let's
finish what we have now," said Hays.
Hays, who holds the fourth highest position in the Canadian
Order of Precedence, said that the main purpose of his visit to
Indonesia was three-fold. First to strengthen ties with
Indonesian legislators. Second, to witness the functioning of
democratic institutions here, especially after the successful
legislative and presidential elections, which were free and fair.
And third, to see the scale of the devastation in Aceh.
Hays and his entourage -- consisting of Senators Michael
Forrestall, Lorna Milne and Madeleine Plamondon -- arrived on
March 12 in Jakarta and left Indonesia on Friday.
During their stay in Jakarta, the Canadian parliamentary
delegation met Vice President Jusuf Kalla, House of
Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono, People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Nur Wahid and Regional Representatives Assembly
Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita.
During a visit to Aceh on Wednesday, Hays announced C$50,000
in assistance from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives for the
Ar-Raniry State Islamic Institute (IAIN) in Banda Aceh to build
women's hostels.
The institute lost around 4,000 of its 6,000 students to the
deadly tsunami.
Asked about possible future cooperation between the Canadian
Senate and the House of Representatives, Hays said that while no
communique would be issued by the two institutions, "... we will
cooperate in areas like parliamentary exchanges, sharing of news
and return visits. We will also provide training to supporting
staff, library staff and researchers to make legislators work
effectively."
Hays also emphasized that Canada and Indonesia had good
relations.
"Indonesia is the second largest destination for our foreign
direct investment in Asia after Japan. We have investments in the
mining and energy sectors," Hays said.
According to Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia Randolph Mank,
Canada has so far invested some C$5.5 billion (US$4.4 billion) in
Indonesia.
Canada, according to Hays, considered Indonesia to be its
partner in the war against terror as Indonesia was not only the
world's largest Muslim-majority nation but also a moderate and
democratic country.
Hays expressed his desire to come back to Indonesia some day
and said Indonesians were "extraordinarily friendly".