Designing a strategy for post-tsunami reconstruction

Designing a strategy for post-tsunami reconstruction

Yayan GH Mulyana, Bogor, West Java

In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Aceh and
North Sumatra, the Indonesian government has outlined a three-
stage strategy. This strategy includes emergency relief,
rehabilitation and reconstruction. The emergency relief operation
is currently underway. Soon after the emergency stage is phased
out, rehabilitation efforts will start. The completion of the
rehabilitation stage will be followed by reconstruction programs.

With a massive loss of lives and material damage,
reconstruction efforts will not only take time but also require
enormous amounts of resources. Domestic and international aid and
assistance will be essential. More importantly, the
reconstruction strategy should go beyond physical measures. It
should address the comprehensive needs of survivors.

The reconstruction strategy for Aceh and North Sumatra,
therefore, should consist of at least four pillars: civil
administration and public services, economic development,
sociocultural development, and political development.

The civil administration and public services pillar would
consist of reforming local governments -- both provincial and
district -- so they could provide public services. Urgent public
services include health services, including grief counseling,
clean water supply, electricity, public transportation,
information and telecommunications.

This pillar will require the rebuilding of government offices
and finding the personnel to fill posts and assume
responsibilities in the newly established local governments. In
this regard, it is important to recruit local professionals and
use the surviving public servants to fill the posts.

The first pillar will provide the Indonesian government an
opportunity to develop a modality that nurtures good governance
and prevents the emergence of a culture of corruption within the
structure of local governments.

Under the second pillar, a variety of economic development
programs are to be executed. One important program under this
pillar is investment that generates employment. Other programs
include the development of infrastructure that facilitates
service delivery and product distribution, including ports,
market development, including traditional markets, and the
improvement of the agricultural, fishery and plantation sectors.

The third pillar aims to preserve sociocultural foundations
and promote human resources development, especially through
education -- both formal and non-formal. The programs would take
account of the preservation of sociocultural symbols, the
establishment of cultural centers, the revitalization of
community centers and the construction of schools and mosques.

Under the fourth pillar, survivors should be brought into the
processes of democratization and nation-building. When the people
are physically and emotionally healed, they must be helped to
play a role in the national processes.

Another program of great importance under this pillar is
people's representation. Legislative and executive elections
should be given a chance to operate. Local legislatures should be
reestablished. This will eventually require the repairing of
party politics in Aceh. Bearing this in mind, the programs under
this pillar should include promoting honest politic practices at
the local level. This opportunity should not be missed.

There are three processes that should ensue within the
framework of the four pillars. Those processes are
indigenization, gender mainstreaming and the streamlining of the
substantive provisions of Law No. 18/2001 on special autonomy for
Aceh.

These processes should listen to and accommodate the concerns
and wishes of the Acehnese. While the reconstruction is a
national project, and internationally supported, its substance
should be locally responsive. Locals should be encouraged to
contribute to and take advantage of the reconstruction efforts.

Indigenization also stresses the incorporation of local values
and cultures in the reconstruction strategy. Acehnese values and
culture have long been rooted in Islam. Thus, it will be
pertinent to prioritize Islam-related projects. It will also be
pertinent to preserve local culture-based institutions that
symbolize the perpetuation of customs and culture in Aceh. In
reflecting local sensitivities, it is important to consult with
local leaders on matters that may cause concern.

Gender mainstreaming in the reconstruction strategy aims to
ensure the specific needs of women and girls are appropriately
met. This effort should address relevant issues in critical areas
of concern such as women and the economy, women and health,
education and training for women, women in politics, women and
the media, and women and the environment.

The reconstruction policy should give Law No. 18/2001 room to
evolve. The law delineates substantive elements essential to
realizing special autonomy for Aceh. Those elements could be
streamlined into concrete projects under the aforementioned
pillars.

Effective coordination is essential to the successful
implementation of the reconstruction strategy as outlined above.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could appoint a special
representative to preside over the work of the four pillars. He
or she should serve in the field, not in Jakarta, and report to
the President regularly in an objective and professional manner.

The writer is a Fulbright alumnus. He can be reached at
yanvontsazik@yahoo.com.