Why that deadline?

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