Why that deadline?

I was so embarrassed when I heard the news that the Indonesian Military (TNI) allegedly applied a "border fee" for foreign aid workers. The most ridiculous one is the deadline for foreign militaries to leave on March 26. But those two cases show the real Indonesian character.

We want to show the world that we are a sovereign and nationalistic country that could protect its citizens, but on the other side we have proven that we could not save our own people without assistance from the international aid.

What I am saying is, why don't we let those foreign workers help the people of Aceh? While on the other side I am sure 100 percent that we could not rebuild Aceh by ourselves alone, taking into account the vastness of the destruction and the economic limitations that we face?

It's fine to observe some foreign military elements, which might try to intervene on Aceh conflict, but it does not mean that we should give a deadline. Do we realize how international assistance is really needed by the people of Aceh?

Do we have enough equipment and personnel to deliver those aids to the tsunami- stricken areas? How many helicopters do we have? How many Hercules do we have? Why don't we make this disaster as a moment of introspection, that we sometimes want to be perceived as a big country, but actually what we are facing now is bigger than we could ever imagine.

I, as an Indonesian, am really embarrassed for these ungrateful gestures. Shame on us!

FERRY PASARIBU Bogota, Columbia