Susilo to attend tsunami commemoration in Aceh
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.