Susilo to attend tsunami commemoration in Aceh
A'an Suryana and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Medan
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and foreign dignitaries are scheduled to attend a commemoration of the first anniversary of the tsunami disaster in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, and Nias island in North Sumatra, amid growing concerns about the pace of the recovery in the devastated areas.
Before attending the tsunami commemoration in Banda Aceh on Monday, the President will fly to Nias island to celebrate Christmas with thousands of victims of the huge earthquake on March 28 this year.
The earthquake disaster, which came in the wake of the tsunami devastation, claimed thousands of lives on the predominately Christian island.
Nias deputy regent Agus Mendrova said the President and his entourage would stay in Nias for four hours, where he is scheduled to visit tsunami and quake victims in Lem Cadika Pramuka field in Nias.
"After a dialog with the displaced persons, the President will symbolically hand over New Year's presents for thousands of tsunami and quake victims from various religions who are still living in makeshift tents," Agus told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The President, he said, also plans to deliver 5,000 Christmas gifts while attending Christmas celebrations in Gunung Sitoli.
The next day, the President would fly to Banda Aceh, according to a spokesman from the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR), Sudirman Said.
Arriving in the Aceh capital, the President would then continue his journey to attend a mass prayer in the Ulee Lheu area.
At the function, the President would lead a minutes silence when a siren will be sounded. The siren would sound at exactly 8.15 a.m, the time the tsunami swept clean Aceh coastal areas on Dec. 26 last year. The President would also witness a groundbreaking ceremony for a mass cemetery dedicated to tsunami victims, said Sudirman.
On the same day, the President is also set to attend a gathering in Banda Aceh with foreign guests, including Timor Leste President Xanana Gusmao and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. At this event, the President will also hear progress reports on tsunami recovery presented by BRR chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.
Later on Monday night, the President will again attend a mass prayer held at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh.
Later on Tuesday, the President plans to inaugurate the BRR office and attend a gathering with former GAM rebels before leaving Aceh for Jakarta.
"The President's itinerary is completely tentative," said Sudirman, who is also BRR deputy chief for communications.