Managing donations

It may be worthwhile to examine the effects of the tsunami tragedy that hit Aceh province on Dec. 26 on the government, or rather on the administration under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, and its political ramifications.

In technical sense, they have nothing to worry about judging from the support given by international agencies and foreign governments as an expression of their deep sympathy for the people who have miserably suffered from the dramatic, unprecedented, and gigantic tidal wave onslaught.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, may be correct in predicting that total rehabilitation of the devastated areas in Indonesia may take no less than ten years. Will the present administration be able to cope with the task if it has to do it alone?

Massive financial means has been pledged by all sides so there will be no problem in this respect. But the tsunami aftermath will surely be felt for a long time to come and may influence other government rehabilitation projects already pledged or drawn up.

Meanwhile, it seems justified to ask the question whether all the funds and aid received from the public as well as from international donations, will reach the people and projects most needy.

Personally, I fear that the aid funds will be fully expended within five years.

The nation's new leaders must deal with the effects of the tsunami and the rehabilitation efforts to stricken provinces, must care for orphans and separated families, and has to live up to the pledges they have given to the nation. Failure or disappointment may cause a loss of confidence in their leadership.

GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta