What happened to Japanese tsunami aid?

After the tsunami hit Aceh and several other parts of Asia, almost all countries in the world vied to show deep sympathy for the victims by sending relief workers and various types of aid.

Japan, which has a reputation as the world's biggest donors to poor countries, promised to provide 52.2 billion yen in relief funds to all countries affected by the natural disaster, including 14.6 billion yen (about US$146 million) for the Aceh people, who suffered the brunt of the disaster's impact. It was among the biggest amount promised by any nation. And it again showed the Japanese to have unrelenting compassion towards those in need.

What has happened to these pledged funds? Several press reports in Japan over the past several weeks indicate that "something wrong" has happened with the grant aid. The Japanese government has assigned the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) to manage and distribute the funds.

JICS is a foundation formed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to channel Japan's Official Development Assistance. According to the recent reports in Japanese media, including Weekly Post and Weekly Gendai, none of the relief funds have been distributed, now over six months after the natural disaster.

There are also documents indicating that the funds could have been channeled through various ministries in Indonesia. It is also reported that JICS had used up 311 million yen in funds as "management fees" despite the fact that not a single yen of the grant aid has been distributed to the Aceh people. Does the JICS deserve a fee for managing the funds allocated for the Aceh people that have lost almost all of their property and family members?

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the money remains a question mark? Where are the funds now? The Japanese press has made a fuss about this, but thus far, none of the Indonesian press has reported this.

All Japanese people, who care about the fate of the Aceh people, need to know where the funds are now. The Japanese and Indonesian governments need to openly tell the public about this.

MOH. FATARURACHMAN REKSONEGORO, Jakarta