[Marinir] Indonesia Digest No:13.05 08 - 04 -'05

[Yap Hong Gie]

INDONESIA DIGEST

Indonesia's complex Issues in a Nutshell
By: Ms. Wurastuti Sunario
Published by: TBSC-Strategic Communication
No.: 13.05 - Dated: 8 April 2005

Our deepest condolences go to all Catholics at the passing away of Pope John
Paul II

In this issue:

MAIN FEATURE:

The Nias Earthquake: Tragedy, Miracles, Food Shortages and Exodus

News and Background:

1.      Tourism and Transportation:
Domestic Airfares Up

2.   Science, Culture and the Environment:
Correction on Bali's Water Needs

3.      Law and Good Governance:
Asian-African countries to bond Partnership
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MAIN FEATURE:

The Nias Earthquake: Tragedy, Miracles, Food Shortages and Exodus

Monday night 11.09 pm, 28 March, disaster struck again when another powerful
earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale shook the island of Nias, off
Sumatra's west coast. Its epicenter was smack between the island of
Simeulue, - earlier decimated in the December quake and tsunami,-  and the
island of Nias to its south. Nias was hit by the December quake, but somehow
escaped destruction - only to bear the brunt this time.  Scientists tell us
that the Sumatra Fault runs parallel to the back bone of the island of
Sumatra, which slants northwest to south east. And, it is along this Fault
that the quakes are generated.

Here are clusters of islands that sit right on that fault. They are
Indonesia's west-most islands that have hardly been touched by development:
they are the island of Simeulue, which forms part of the province of Aceh.
To its south is the island of Nias, which forms part of the province of
North Sumatra. Between these are the Banyak islets.

Separated by a deep sea from mainland Sumatra, there is poor access to all
these islands. While coordination among them is also difficult since they
belong to two different provincial administrations. Among these, Nias has
the most population at 660,000 counted during the 2002 census.

In anthropology, Nias is known as having the oldest living megalithic
culture of Indonesia, still found in the village of Bawomataluo in south
Nias The culture has continued to thrive here on account of the island's
very isolation. But now, suddenly,  the island receives national and
world-wide attention because of its location that sits directly on the line
of devastating earthquakes.

It is small wonder, therefore, that when the quake struck Monday night,
destroying 80% of houses and infrastructure in the towns of Gunung Sitoli
and Teluk Dalam, help came painfully slowly. And, to exacerbate matters,
whatever meager infrastructure there was in the form of small airports,
harbour, roads and electricity, was badly damaged by the quake, making
access and aid even more difficult.  Although, fortunately no tsunami ensued
this time, yet, concrete buildings had fallen down like houses of cards and
buried many people under their rubble.

On Sunday, 3 April, almost one week after the quake, the Police reported
that 616 people were found killed, 324 seriously injured, 2,615 lightly
injured. A total of 6,172 houses were destroyed, 99 schools, 105 churches,
13 mosques and 64 office buildings had collapsed. However, most tragic is
the fact that many victims, who had survived the quake, lay buried under
tons of rubble, and died because they could not be extricated in time, as no
heavy equipment was at hand. And thus we see people using hammers with their
bare hands to break through concrete walls hands, which, of course, was to
not much avail.

On Wednesday, two days after the quake, a trapped girl, called Melanie, sent
an SMS to a relative mentioning that she lay under rubble in her house. Only
nine days after the quake was she finally extricated, dead, after days of
non-stop digging by exhausted volunteers.

Nonetheless, almost miraculously, Michael, a boy of 13 was taken out from
the ruins three days after the quake. Five days after, a team of Indonesian
Marines, together with the Singapore and Mexican armed forces managed to
rescue a man, alive. For five days Hendra was trapped between concrete
slabs. He later told reporters that he managed to stay alive only through
belief and prayers. His wife, two daughters and two sons had perished.

President Yudhoyono and the First Lady came to inspect on Wednesday. They
brought a ray of hope and cheer, promising fast help. But still help in the
form of food and medicines arrived only two long, long days after the
disaster. In fact, one week after the quake, food, water nor clothing had
reached evacuees in the south Nias town of Teluk Dalam.

Exodus and Food Shortage

And thus, after one week of hardly any food or medicine, and one week
experiencing over 100 after-quakes, the people of Nias are making an exodus
for the mainland. Hundreds line up the pier to wait for the few boats that
come to the island. When interviewed they said that they were trying to
escape from a rumoured larger quake and tsunami threat, but most important,
because there was a dire lack of food. Some had gone without food for days.
Although food and heavy equipment have arrived, there was just not enough to
go around, or its distribution system had failed. On 6 April, Bisnis
Indonesia reported that 40,000 of the 74,000 inhabitants of the island of
Simuelue are reported experiencing food shortages, surviving only on
bananas, maize and whatever the forests and their small plots of land
produced. No substantial help had arrived.




Tourists rescued, others still missing

Meanwhile, Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia, Lennart Linner told AFP that on
31
March,helicopters chartered by the Swedish and British Embassies managed to
rescue 12 foreign tourists along the beach of Lagundri, South Nias. Lagundri
is famed for its magnificent surf, drawing surfers from many parts of the
world. Those rescued included two Swedes, two French nationals, two
Americans, two Germans, three British and two Canadians. While, 5 of 24
Americans known to have been on the island are still missing. Indeed, the
Boston News reported that the first medical team to help quake victims were
doctors from the surfing community.

Australian helicopter accident

Unfortunately, Saturday, an Australian Navy Sea King helicopter from HMAS
Kanimbla,  carrying supply and help, developed engine trouble and fell on a
field in Teluk Dalam. Nine of its 11 member crew and men were reported
killed, while the two survivors were seriously injured. President Yudhoyono
who was on a visit to Australia awarded Exemplary Social Services medals to
those killed.

Among this gloom, the Russian government announced that Russia will build a
mobile hospital in Nias, equipped with its own generator and operations
tools, and that can provide clean water.

Next large Quake to hit Mentawei Islands and West Sumatra?

In a continuing drama, scientists are now warning the people of West
Sumatra, particularly the islands of Mentawei, south of Nias of an impending
earthquake, since conditions are "ripe" for an earthquake that could happen
any time, that could also be followed by a tsunami. And, as a result, people
on Mentawai have started to run to the hills or leave the islands to find
refuge on the mainland. Meanwhile, quakes have already shaken the provincial
capital of Padang during the past week, including on Sunday, 3 April,
registering 6.2 on the Richter Scale.

And so, rumours continue and thrive. A scientific report from Australia, has
apparently also triggered panic among inhabitants of the island of Samosir,
located within Lake Toba in North Sumatra. The report said that a large
volcanic eruption will occur here, that will be larger than the quake in
Aceh and Nias. This has caused panic among its inhabitants and an exodus of
Samosir's population has ensued. The meteorological office, however, denied
that such eruption could occur on Samosir, since the volcano here is
extinct.

Upgrade status of Nias Quake to National Disaster

In the latest development, Chairman of the Nias Synod of Churches, Bishop FS
Gea,
said that the people of Nias are very disturbed and hurt by the Government's
decision
to proclaim the disaster as a mere Provincial Disaster. The people of Nias
urge that the
Nias earthquake be proclaimed a National Disaster, in order that help can be
received
faster and could more adequately meet emergency needs.

On 8 April, North Sumatra Deputy Governor, Rudolf M. Pardede said that
arrival and
Distribution of assistance will be faster now since the badly damaged main
road from
Gunung Sitoli, in the north of the island, to Teluk Dalam in the south,
extending 108
kilometers, and bridges are repaired some 10 days after the quake. The
island has
been sent 30 units of heavy equipment, and electricity network is back in
operation.
While, Minister Sri Mulyani of the National Planning Board said that an
additional
Rp. 3.1 trillion has been earmarked for Nias, making a total allocation of
Rp. 46.1
trillion for the recovery and reconstruction of the islands of Nias and
Simuelue to be
spent for a period of 5 years.

(Sources: Media Indonesia, Metro TV, Kompas, Bisnis Indonesia)
(Tuti Sunario)
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News and Background:

1.      Tourism and Transportation:

Domestic Airfares up

Members of the Indonesian Association of National Commercial Airlines,
INACA, have agreed to increase domestic airfares starting 6 April, said its
Secretary General. Tickets will be raised with a maximum of Rp. 75,000 per
flight hour, however, actual hikes will be left to each of the Association's
17 members to decide. The hike follows the increase in the price of of
aviation fuel  by Pertamina,  both in avtur and avgas,  by 20% and 14%
respectively. This again was caused by escalating world oil prices, which
now ranges between US$ 58 and US 57.  Fuel constitutes between 30%-40% of
airline operational costs.

Meanwhile, Bisnis Indonesia reports that IATA expects that globally,
airlines will suffer estimate losses of US$ 5.5 billion this year due to
escalating oil prices, as mentioned by IATA Director General Giovanni
Bisignani.

2.      Science, Culture and the Environment:

Correction on Bali's Water Needs

The Article appearing in Indonesia Digest 12.05 on Bali's Water Needs, needs
correction, and should read as follows:

-  That by 2025, Bali's population will grow from its estimated 3.147
million people in 2000 to 4.139 million - an increase of 32%.


- Similarly, foreign tourist visitor arrivals currently standing at 1.458
million can be expected to increase 153% to 3.690 million in 20 years time.

We apologize for the error.


3.      Law and Good Governance:

Asian-African countries to bond in Strategic Partnership

On 30 March, a Senior Officials Meeting of Asian and African nations to
prepare the agenda for the Asian-African Summit to be held in Jakarta on
22-23 April, was adjourned. The AA SOM recommended two Draft Declarations to
be signed by Heads of Government and related Ministers, said Sudjadman
Parnohadiningrat, Indonesia's Chief Delegate and Chairman of the AA SOM
Meeting in Jakarta. Their contents are in line with the Summit's Theme,
namely: "Reinvigorating the Bandung Spirit: Working towards a New
Asian-African Strategic Partnership". Final documents will be signed on 24
April in Bandung, West Java, at the commemoration of the Asian-African
Golden Jubilee, said Sudjadman.

In the political arena the Declaration states that Asian-African nations
support the freedom and sovereignty of the state of Palestine. Furthermore,
the countries support the concept of multilateralism in the global political
system that will prevent unilateral strikes. For this purpose, collective
actions are needed to reform the United Nations. Asian-African Nations are,
therefore, of the opinion that the present structure of the UN is no longer
consistent with the aims of the UN itself, whereas, UN Reform must touch all
aspects of UN operations.

" We are in agreement that UN Reform must make this organization more
democratic and represent the interest of all its members" added Ayanda
Ntsaluba, Co-Chairman of SOM from South-Africa .

Other political issues discussed touched on the protection of human rights,
transnational crime and terrorism; while in the economy, the strategic
partnership aims to reduce poverty, mobilize resources, strengthen economic
cooperation and push economic growth. In the social-cultural field more
frequent exchanges of Asian-African cultural troupes will be done as well as
closer cooperation in the mitigation of natural disasters.

The Declaration of Strategic Partnership that will be signed by Heads of
State, will be followed up by an Declaration of the Action Program that will
be signed by related Ministers, which aims to be the first step towards
strengthening cooperation among Asian-African countries. These concerns are
mostly of technical nature and in the exchange of experiences.

Asked by the press on his reaction to the Asian-African Summit, United
States Ambassador to Indonesia, Lynn Pasco, said that his country looked at
the Asian-African cooperation in a positive light. The US, Great Britain,
France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Canada are donors to the Summit and will
be present as observers.

Meanwhile, the Organizing Committee said that at present 54 heads of state
and 64 countries have confirmed their attendance. The two continents of Asia
and Africa together count a total population of 4.6 billion people,
constituting 73% of total world population. The two continents comprise 106
countries of the total 191 members of the UN. Nonetheless, together they
form the poorest area in the world, where more than one billion people live
below the poverty line.


For your comments and further inquiries please e-mail to:
tbsc-strategy at indo.net.id