Foreign troops help, not hurt: SBY

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Suspicions that foreign troops could be in the country for political rather than humanitarian reasons have been brushed aside by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

After visiting Halim Perdanakusumah Airport to observe emergency relief efforts on Saturday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said there were no grounds for such a claim.

"The presence of foreign servicemen here is apolitical, they are conducting a humanitarian operation. After some time we will take over the operation, but for now we are grateful for their presence," said the President.

After the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis, large numbers of troops, including from the U.S., Australia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, arrived in Aceh.

U.S. ships are docked off Aceh's coast, while ship-based U.S. Navy and Marine helicopter crews are dropping aid to villages and remote areas affected by the disaster, as well as evacuating injured victims.

Previously, after the imposition of martial law on May 19, 2003, foreigners were prohibited from visiting the province for security reasons. Now, though, visas on arrival have been provided for humanitarian workers wanting to help in Aceh, as well as foreign journalists.

Legislator Theo L. Sambuaga urged people not to be suspicious of the foreign troops' motives in assisting the tsunami victims. Indonesians, he said, should be grateful as it would be hard for the Indonesian Military (TNI) to help all those in need with no outside help.

"We need their help," stressed Theo, who is chairman of the House Commission I for defense, foreign affairs and information, as quoted by Antara.

"The government has coordinated their presence since day one, so I am sure they are here for humanitarian reasons, not war."

The President thanked the TNI on Saturday for being the backbone of the humanitarian operation in Aceh.

"I would also like to express gratitude to the Malaysian government, which has allowed us to use Subang airport as one of our centers of operation," Susilo said.

During the visit, he took time out to see Royal Australian Air Force airplanes and talked to some volunteers from Hungary, slated to leave for Aceh.

Indonesian Air Force bases across the country have been overwhelmed by incoming aid and the arrivals of carriers from other countries to assist in aid distribution.

Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa said the limited capacity of the airports to receive planes and facilities, such as for refueling and unloading the aid, had hampered the flow of distribution.

"However, we are trying to overcome these problems, and the facilities provided by neighboring countries like Malaysia have been a great help," he said.

According to Air Force data, since Dec. 27, there have been a total of 834 sorties to Aceh from nine Air Force bases across the country, carrying a total of 4,098,163 kilograms of aid to the province. The Air Force also had transported a total of 17,919 volunteers to support the humanitarian operation in Aceh.

Tsunami death toll

COUNTRY DEATHS INJURED

Bangladesh 2
East Africa 137*
India 15,636**
Indonesia 104,055 up to 100,000
Malaysia 74 299
Maldives 74
Myanmar 59 45
Sri Lanka 30,718 16,760
Thailand 5,305 8,457
TOTAL 156,060

* This figure includes Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Madagascar. ** Indian figure includes missing and presumed dead. - Number of injured is not available for all countries affected, but is expected to exceed the number of dead.

Source: Reuters