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".