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Statement by New York, 18 January 2005
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and on behalf of those whose lives have been changed by the recent Indian Ocean tsunami, my delegation would like to thank you for this opportunity to address this resumed meeting of the 59th session of the General Assembly. The circumstances surrounding our meeting today emphatically underline its timeliness and relevance. Mr. President, Today’s meeting comes on the heels of the most powerful submarine earthquake in recent memory off the coast of Sumatra on 26 December. While the death toll from this epic disaster is constantly being revised, it stands today at well over 160,000. Indonesia continues to calculate its human losses mostly in its province of Aceh which, to date, amount to more than 110,000. In addition more than 10,000 are missing and more than 700,000 are displaced, their lives disrupted as they lost not only their homes but most sadly their livelihood and now they are living in temporary shelters and camps. We gratefully acknowledge, however, the challenge before us is not one that we are facing alone. In the face of this great human tragedy, we have all responded out of our profound sense of common humanity. From all quarters, there have been incredible demonstrations of love, compassion and deep caring. There have been large-scale aid donations and unprecedented extraordinary international response through humanitarian relief efforts. At the head of all of this is the United Nations which has mobilized the international community to give generously and has been helping affected host countries to coordinate relief efforts being provided. For these, Indonesia sincerely expresses, through you Mr. President, its deepest gratitude and appreciation. We join Secretary-General Kofi Annan in expressing the hope that this global outpouring of solidarity and generosity will be sustained in the long run. Mr. President, While Indonesia is wholeheartedly grateful for the unwavering support and affection expressed by the international community, it is worth mentioning that people from all walks of life in Indonesia have also exhibited their full compassion and solidarity - from Adi, a student at elementary school in Solo who donated his piggy bank savings, to Markus, a businessman from North Sulawesi, who sent boxes of food and blankets, as well as from the staff of Bank Indonesia who donated their monthly salaries for their fellow brothers and sisters in Aceh. Various individual and group initiatives, including the voluntary assistance being provided by paramedics as well as from child consultants and construction workers from all over Indonesia, are being woven together to help rebuild Aceh. All of these are eagerly showing Indonesia’s solidarity with their fellow countrymen in Aceh, as members of the big family of Indonesia. While these relief efforts have brought back some measure of normalcy to affected communities, by ensuring the availability of various public facilities such as health care, water and sanitation, education and other basic needs, it is important to note that such support must be maintained during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases. Those points in the restoration process require different approaches and facilities to adequately address the different needs of the victims, especially those 700,000 displaced persons in Aceh. In this regard, efforts are being undertaken, involving the TNI, Indonesian Armed Forces, local authorities and volunteers, as well as relevant UN agencies to set up twenty-four relocation centers to provide accommodation for the displaced. These centers will logistically enable occupants greater access to humanitarian assistance. They will be set up in accordance with principles and requirements established by the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations and involve various other stakeholders to ensure that an acceptable quality of life is possible in these facilities. Mr. President, In collaboration with the United Nations, the Government has also established a Joint Disaster Management Centre in Jakarta at the Office of Vice President, H.E. Yusuf Kalla and the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare is currently on-the-spot in Aceh coordinating relief operations there. The main purpose of the centre is to assess the needs and set priorities for the management and coordination of international relief efforts which are expected to last for the next six to 12 months. This collaboration is intended to guarantee proper and accountable management of aid from various national, regional and international resources. Mr. President, To make certain that these communities are not subjected to a similar fate in the future, Indonesia firmly believes, like ASEAN, that a regional early warning system should be put in place to prevent the huge loss of life and property that resulted from December’s tsunami. We therefore fully support the proposal for a Regional Tsunami Early Warning Centre on the Indian Ocean and the Southeast Asia region, one similar to the Pacific Ocean warning network based in Hawaii. Had such a system been in place, thousands of lives would have been saved. Similarly, during the ASEAN Standing Committee, currently taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia, it has been proposed that there should be an ASEAN Humanitarian Rapid Response Capacity as a regional institution to speedily mobilize and deploy civilian and military personnel in addressing emergency situations in ASEAN countries. This initiative is indeed a concrete step to follow-up the Jakarta Declaration of 6 January 2005. In conclusion, Mr. President, in the midst of its current difficult situation, Indonesia welcomes and is undoubtedly thankful for the support of the international community. That solidarity will not only stay in the heart and memory of every Indonesian, but even now is proving to be an invaluable resource in our efforts to deal with the disastrous effects of the tsunami. We must indeed make permanent this culture of international solidarity that has emerged in response to this great tragedy. Working together must become the hallmark of future international relations. As our President, H.E. Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has said, “When the crisis has passed, let us not go back to business as usual, only to become a solid community again when another disaster strikes”. I thank you. |
