Task Force PRR Dispels Surrender Narrative, Explains Ongoing Cleaning Progress

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the Aceh Regional Command Post (Kaposwil) for the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR), Safrizal ZA, has dismissed narratives circulating on social media that imply the government is surrendering in handling post-flood mud in Aceh. “We need to emphasise that for us, ‘heavy’ means we must work hard and never give up. All of this cannot be done instantly. So the spirit is a positive one to fulfil our responsibilities, not one of surrender. ‘Heavy’ is the reality of the field that we are conquering together,” said Safrizal ZA in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday. Safrizal affirmed that the cleaning process is ongoing intensively with tangible results on the ground. Safrizal explained the meaning of his statement regarding the term ‘heavy’, which was misinterpreted by some parties. According to him, the term reflects the hard work of the team in the field, not an admission of inability or despair. Based on Satgas operational data, out of a total of 519 targeted locations in Aceh, 480 locations have been fully cleaned. Meanwhile, the remaining 39 locations are currently being worked on. To accelerate the process, personnel support is being optimised at crucial points. In the Aceh Tamiang region, Satgas has deployed IPDN Praja personnel to help speed up the cleaning of public facilities and residential environments so they can be used again soon. In addition to deploying civil service personnel, Safrizal also explained the continuity of the Phase II Labour-Intensive Programme, which involves direct participation from affected communities. In Pidie Jaya, specifically in the Meureudu and Meurah Dua Sub-districts, this programme is actively running with a total of 392 participants. Safrizal also asked the public not to be easily provoked by incomplete snippets of information on social media. He assured that all vital infrastructure and national roads have been 100% completed since last January, and now Satgas is focusing on completing the cleaning of residential environments. “Data is fact and our work is real. We will not stop until the last location is truly completed. We invite the public to remain optimistic in welcoming the next rehabilitation and reconstruction phase,” said Safrizal.