Day of arrival in Banda Aceh
Day of arrival in Banda Aceh
It is believed that the world discovered the spice islands
starting with ACEH, in the Acehnese language. It is said that
ACEH is an acronym of the people's ethnic composition -- Arab,
Chinese, European and Hindi.
The tsunami changed "everything", particularly in the city of
Banda Aceh. Before it was a quiet little town with many beautiful
beaches (Ujong Batee, Lam Puuk and Lhok Nga) with clean blue
waters, white sands and sunsets.
A wise man Azmi makes his confession to me, that he misses the
serenity and purity in the quietness of Banda Aceh. However, he
said, the overwhelming presence of others is necessary and
appreciated.
The earthquake- and tsunami-generated rubble of Banda Aceh is
left "as is". The rebuilding master plan is expected to top
US$4.5 billion over five years, assuming the promised
international aid is realized. The money is scheduled to be
released late March.
My Garuda Airlines flight to Banda Aceh has its own unique
memories. My on board neighbor was a hijab-clad World Health
Organization official, Dr. Rossi. Across the aisle was a young
man, who I later came to know as Yusri. After having lost all
family members and severely injuring his left eye, Yusri was
returning to his native town of Banda Aceh for the first time
from Jakarta after a two-month treatment.
Banda Aceh's airport was designed for receiving only a limited
number of flights a day. Its baggage conveyor belt was no wider
than the check-in counter belt at a major grocery store in
America. Over 100 flights came in immediately after the tsunami
hit tapering down now to about 10 a day.
Outside the airport, there was a display of big and even
bigger cars with a collage of mind-boggling logos on them. Our
hosts Pos Keadilan Peduli Ummat (PKPU), or the Center for Justice
and Care for Muslims and Dompet Dhuafa (DD), or Wallet of the
Poor) graciously got us into cars to leave the airport.
Our solemn tour began with a visit to one of the first of many
mass graves barely few kilometers from the airport.
This particular mass grave housed "20,000 victims" of the
earthquake and tsunami disaster, buried a day after the tragedy
on Dec. 26, 2004.
This solemn experience holds no parallel in my memory. Never
in my adult life, have I cried so easily. I questioned myself
looking at the football field size mass grave, how do I pray for
"20,000 people?" My imagination led me to see a wailing 70-year-
old grandfather loosing his grip on his seven-year-old grand-
daughter and a newly wed Acehnese daughter frantically crying for
her beloved. I cried more, until my host gently tapped my
shoulder and reminded me, "today is your day of arrival in Banda
Aceh."
SHAKEEL SYED, Vice President, www.Islam.org, California, U.S.