Govt told to give access to foreign aid agencies
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although the president declared a national disaster after the country was devastated on Sunday by the most cataclysmic disaster since the 1883 Krakatau eruption, international aid agencies were still not being allowed to enter conflict-wracked Aceh to help thousands of victims.
There have been restrictions imposed on foreigners since the government placed Aceh under martial law in May 2003 to fight separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
In May this year, the status was downgraded to a state of civil emergency, but foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, were still barred from working in Aceh except with the express consent from the civil emergency administration.
The mass of red tape is making it difficult for quick access to the victims of the 8.9 quake and massive tidal waves.
Instead of freely allowing foreign humanitarian agencies direct access to victims, the government set up a number of emergency centers across Aceh to receive, process and distribute humanitarian aid, including that which comes from outside the country.
National Law Commission (KHN) member Fajrul Falaakh urged the government on Monday to "modify" the state of civil emergency in a bid to provide quick, direct access for international humanitarian aid to Aceh.
"The government must firmly announce that foreign relief can enter Aceh directly. The magnitude of the calamity is too big for Indonesia to tackle alone. The victims need help as quickly as possible," he told The Jakarta Post.
"The government should ease the strict regulations on the state of civil emergency, which was enacted based on primitive laws that bar quick access and relief for millions of victims," Fajrul added.
He went on to say that this would be an acid test for the new government to see whether it was able to improve its humanitarian operations, which is part of the four-pronged integrated operation in Aceh. It also includes a military operation against the rebels in Aceh.
The state of civil emergency is based on Government Regulation in Lieu of law No. 23/1959, which allows the authorities to greatly restrict the activities of civilians, and prevent outsiders from entering.
The restrictions appear to go against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decision on Sunday to declare the calamity a national disaster.
Under Presidential Decree No. 3/2001 on National Disaster Management Coordination Body (Bakornas PB), the declaration of a national disaster must be followed by immediate resolutions including settlement after the disaster.
The decree also requires the central government to be responsible for financing everything that is required in the wake of a disaster.
It also supposedly allows the government to accept international aid, which is coordinated by the Bakornas PB head and given directly to victims. Alternatively, relief can be channeled through governors, regents and mayors.
Meanwhile, the United Nations pledged to provide US$1 million in immediate assistance for victims of the powerful quake and tidal waves on Sumatra and more aid would be made available, AFP reported.
Mohamed Saleheen, the acting chief of the UN's mission to Indonesia, said the organization would work with government teams to coordinate relief aid and a UN disaster response team would arrive as soon as it had permission.
Australia has also announced that it was sending four giant air force transport planes filled with emergency aid here to help the victims.
Two of the C-130 Hercules planes left Sydney on Monday carrying supplies and medical specialists and another two will depart Tuesday, Defense Minister Robert Hill said.
In addition to the emergency relief aid for Indonesia, Australia also announced a AS$10 million (US$7.6 million) financial assistance package for victims of the tidal waves that hit nations across south and southeast Asia, and as far as eastern Africa.