World responds to Aceh's pain (The Jakarta Post)

excerpts from article:

"The catastrophic Asian tsunami has not merely destroyed countless cities and villages and killed over one hundred and fifty thousand people, but has also stimulated a genuine spontaneous desire among people to help. Such a spontaneous willingness to help the victims can be seen in many cities worldwide. The international community has given its full attention and shown a universal will to overcome this disaster. It is such a candle in the dark. --snip--

"There are many people; ordinary people, big and small companies who are willing to help. One student studying at the Islamic University of Indonesia in Makassar city told of a beggar who gave his daily earnings to the student to be delivered to the affected people. -- snip--

"Aceh, the province at the tip of Sumatra Island has suffered the most in the Asian tsunami with an estimated 100,000 fatalities. -- snip--

"Therefore, the pain of the Acehnese people is the pain of Indonesians as well. So far, Aceh is still under civil emergency rule, and the role of the Indonesian Military is very strong in this area. Thousands of Acehnese have died in the conflict between the Indonesian Military and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). -- snip--

"...the long suffering of Aceh, not just due to this natural disaster, but also the chronic political conflict, is another reason why many Indonesian people feel great empathy for Aceh.... The Indonesian government must learn from the disaster and from the genuine concern of the ordinary people to better serve their people.

"In the context of Aceh, it is urgent to continue efforts for conflict resolution and peace building. Many Indonesian NGOs concerned with human rights issues are asking the government to acknowledge that the separatist movement in Aceh is the result of economic and political injustice. Many Indonesian NGOs also maintain that it would be hypocritical for the government to allow international involvement to provide aid for Aceh after the tsunami but prevent international involvement in conflict resolution and peace building in the province.

"Hopefully, this natural disaster will be a blessing in disguise in the form of a genuine desire from the Indonesian government and the GAM to resume dialog. Besides emergency aid due to the natural disaster, it is apparent that the primary needs of the ordinary people in Aceh now and in the future are peace and prosperity. Conflict, violence and corruption will only prolong their pain."

The Jakarta Post - World responds to Aceh's pain