On Kostrad aid to Bengkulu

On Kostrad aid to Bengkulu

I was disturbed to read (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 8, 2000) that
Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah may be subject to official
criticism for his decision to send troops of the Army Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) to Bengkulu to assist with earthquake
relief.

I am involved in an Indonesian business group (with Australian
connections) which also provided aid, and we met some of those
troops. By chance we found them restoring a badly damaged
elementary school in a low-cost housing area far away from the
public view on the outskirts of Bengkulu city.

According to local community leaders, the soldiers came
unannounced and sought no payment or favors, but in a very short
period of time efficiently and quietly totally restored a four-
classroom block. Our funds were limited, but were enough to
provide the classroom furniture needed to complement the work of
the soldiers. All aid was totally in kind, and together we left
behind some very happy little kids on the first day of the
current school term.

I have no idea whether Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah breached
any regulations in providing the assistance that he did, but the
exemplary behavior we saw is a positive reflection on Kostrad
leadership (not just that of Lt. Gen. Agus). And we sorely need
officers in our Army able to generate such good service and
public support. And Bengkulu still needs our help, by the way.

PETER FANNING

Jakarta