Govt told to give access to foreign aid agencies

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.