Ministers to Mark Independence Day with NTT Earthquake Victims
A number of ministers from the Red and White Cabinet and state officials will celebrate the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia’s independence this year together with residents affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The decision is part of the central government’s rapid response to President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to ensure that the handling of the impact of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake proceeds directly and in a coordinated manner on the ground.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno said a number of central government officials will be spread across the affected areas to oversee the handling according to their respective duties and responsibilities. They will even commemorate Independence Day together with communities in areas that are facing difficult times due to the disaster.
“We will divide tasks to the field (disaster-affected locations) and then tomorrow we will hold the ceremony not in Jakarta, but we will join the independence day ceremony in various regions (affected by the earthquake),” Pratikno said after a coordination meeting in West Manggarai Regency, NTT, Sunday (16/8).
According to Pratikno, the presence of state officials in various affected locations is not merely to attend the ceremony. They are tasked with overseeing crucial issues while ensuring that disaster management needs in each region can be responded to immediately.
“We divide tasks to various regions to oversee according to our duties and functions, overseeing crucial issues in those areas. But we will continue to coordinate even though we are in different places,” he said.
The move is part of the government’s joint work, which has been moving towards NTT since the first day of the disaster. On the same night after the earthquake occurred, Pratikno together with Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto, Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Mohammad Syafii, as well as leaders from PLN, Pertamina, and Telkom departed for the affected areas.
The presence of the central government team is intended to oversee the handling from the emergency response period through to the rehabilitation and reconstruction process. The government is also strengthening coordination through an integrated post network so that aid from various regions can move more quickly and be better targeted.
A national post has been put on standby to consolidate the dispatch of logistics from Jakarta and a number of other regions through Halim Perdanakusuma Airport before being forwarded to the disaster locations. Meanwhile, operational posts have also been established in Labuan Bajo and Maumere to strengthen direct coordination with local governments.
Pratikno stressed that coordination is key so that the government’s large-scale resources truly answer the needs of communities on the ground. “The central government full team is present here. We listened to the presentations of regional leaders about the support expected from the central government. And we each presented what we will do and have already done,” he said.
He added that synchronisation is needed so that all government forces in dealing with the emergency situation can work in one direction, from saving residents to the recovery stage. “This synchronisation is very important so that the government’s large resources for emergency response as well as for rehabilitation and reconstruction run synergistically, effectively, and on target,” Pratikno said.
During the emergency response period, the government is prioritising the safety of residents as well as meeting the basic needs of affected communities. At the same time, repairs to vital infrastructure are being accelerated so that community activities can resume.
“In this emergency response stage, the main priority is of course to save and meet the basic needs of affected residents, then to restore damaged infrastructure so that it becomes functional again, including roads, bridges, hospitals, electricity, internet networks, and others,” Pratikno concluded.
Thus, the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence for these officials is not merely ceremonial. Amid the grief and struggle of NTT residents to recover, the independence celebration is instead being brought closer to communities who are in need of support and the presence of the state.