Navy seeking donations for civic mission in Kalimantan

Navy seeking donations for civic mission in Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): The Navy is seeking donations from the public,
especially entrepreneurs, to carry out its annual civic mission
on five isolated islands in West Kalimantan next month.

"We call on people with money, especially businesspeople, to
contribute to the mission as a gesture of solidarity with their
poor countrymen on the islands," Navy spokesman Col. Mualimin
Santoso said yesterday.

He said that the Navy need Rp 150 million (US$64,000) for the
month-long mission, but has only Rp 50 million on hand.

He said the mission will be carried out on the islands of
Serutu, Karimata, Maya, Pelapis and Padang Tikar. The exercise is
code named Surya Bhaskara Jaya Operation.

The Navy will build public facilities like roads, schools and
mosques, as well as launch an information campaign on development
and provide medicine.

"We will receive any aid in the form of money, construction
materials, drugs, used clothes, electronic goods and books to be
donated to the islands' inhabitants who still live under the
poverty line," he said.

The Navy has conducted similar missions in underdeveloped
areas of other provinces since 1980; all part of its commitment
to establish solidarity with the people, Mualimin said. Last
year, the mission was carried out in least developed areas of
Aceh.

Mualimin said that the five islands off West Kalimantan were
chosen after a survey of their social conditions showed they
deserved priority.

The islanders are badly in need of public facilities, such as
roads, schools, mosques and quays, to support economic
development.

"We will bring along a medical team to the islands," he said.

According to the Navy's survey, of the 44,000 people on the
islands, about 8,000 suffer from either malaria, anemia,
malnutrition, cataracts or skin diseases.

He declined to disclose the number of sailors to be involved
in the mission.

Civic missions, which are also carried out by the Army, are
aimed at improving the well-being of people in rural areas, and
narrow the gap between the rich and the poor in Indonesia.

Army Chief Gen. R. Hartono said on Monday that in some areas,
like Irian Jaya, Kalimantan and Maluku, transportation is so
limited by geography that it is difficult to get the equipment to
where it is needed. (rms)