Japanese soldiers reach out to Acehnese with music, medicine

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Dozens of children sat in silence around Capt. Hiroyuki Ozaki -- one of some 1,000 Japanese soldiers sent to Aceh to undertake humanitarian relief operations -- to watch him play Japanese traditional tunes with his sukihaci (Japanese flute).

The children, along with their parents, were gathered in Lam Ara field in Banda Aceh where Japanese soldiers had set up their medical treatment center.

Ozaki's flute performance capped a happy day, which also saw the children play a game with the soldiers.

"We entertain residents here as well as providing them with free medication, and we have done so every day since we arrived on Jan. 23," said Sgt. Maj. Wakamatsu, a member of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF) who heads the health center.

A total of 4,740 patients had so far been treated at the medical center, he said.

"We will never forget the faces of the children and people here. They are all very friendly. With such a warm welcome, we forget that we are in a foreign country," he said.

Mila, 34, a local resident accompanied by her son Afrizal, 6, who joined in the game, could not conceal her excitement. She laughs as she watches Afrizal and other children play with the Japanese soldiers.

"They have been very nice to us. We are getting closer to them every day. They give us free medication, and entertain us and our children. We owe them a lot," Mila told The Jakarta Post.

Armed with medicines, syringes and fumigators, the Japanese Self Defense Forces (JSDF) -- or Jieitei as they are known in their home country -- were among the first contingents to conduct relief missions in the province that was devastated by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Billed as the Japanese military's largest-ever operation since World War II, the 1,000-strong mission brought along 230 JGSDF personnel under the command of Col. Muramoto Takachi, including 20 medical staff, to Aceh on Jan. 16.

The ground force is supported by over 600 sailors from three Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force vessels, which embarked from their base in Hokkaido.

Outside of Lam Ara, they have been busy restoring a community health center in Miboh, Banda Aceh, since Feb. 14.

One of the Japanese doctors, Lt. Col. Mitsuhiro Morita, 37, always receives patients with a smile.

"Each day we treat an average of 150 patients suffering various kinds of ailments. That indicates that people believe in us, and we are very proud of that. Many patients said they left their remote homes to come to our medical center only because they heard a Japanese doctor was treating people here," he said.

Morita, who came to Indonesia immediately after completing duty in Iraq, said the health center had treated a total of 1,080 patients in only 10 days.

"I have been here for about a month. I miss my family a lot because I had to leave them right after I came home from Iraq. But this is a beautiful country with very kind people. I enjoy the experience here very much," he said.

Hasan, 41, who came all the way from Sigli to be treated by the Japanese doctors, said his illness was cured after only two visits to the doctors.

"After months of medical treatment in my home town, I didn't feel any better. I don't even know what was wrong with me. But I don't really care now, as I feel much, much better," he told the Post.