New body to continue Aceh projects

Erwida Maulia, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Sat, 02/14/2009 9:57 AM  

Helping Aceh and Nias: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) talks with Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia John Holmes (left) and BRR chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto (center) in Jakarta on Friday during an exhibition on recovery efforts. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

The government has unveiled its plan to form a new agency to pick up where the post-tsunami Aceh and Nias reconstruction agency (BRR) left off. 

The government would also continue supervising Aceh reconstruction programs after the BRR ceases operations April 16. 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Friday he had signed a decree ending the four-year term of the Agency for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation for Aceh and Nias. 

The decree also stipulates recovery programs in the two post-reconstruction areas would fall on the shoulders of state ministries and local authorities. 

“To guarantee the continuation of reconstruction and rehabilitation programs which have already been implemented, and to ensure the synchronization and harmonization of development  activities, the government will establish a new reconstruction agency for Aceh and Nias,” Yudhoyono told the opening ceremony of the two-day Coordination Forum for Aceh and Nias IV at the Jakarta Convention Center.  

“With this agency, we expect the next developments in the two areas will be integrated, rapidly implemented and sustainable,” he added. 

The President said the operation of the new body, due to be led by the  Aceh and North Sumatra governors, would have to maintain the principles of good governance as laid out by the BRR and its partners. 

“I am asking people who will run this body not to breach clean, transparent and accountable principles of management. We have spent a lot on these recovery programs – about Rp 22 trillion (US$1.85 billion) from the Indonesian government alone, before even mentioning financial support from donor countries. 

“It would be a pity if the continuation does not run well,” Yudhoyono warned. 

He said the central government would provide support for the Aceh and North Sumatra administrations to continue the recovery programs, while supervising the new body to ensure it stays on the right track. 

The President praised the BRR for “successfully” doing its job in Aceh and Nias in the four years since the two regions were ravaged by huge tsunami and an earthquake  in 2004 and 2005, respectively. 

He also said what the agency has done could set a good standard for the management of relief activities in other disaster-struck areas. 

BRR head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto reported his agency had collected $7.2 billion for recovery projects in Aceh and Nias, including $2.1 billion from the Indonesian government. 

He said 93 percent had been  channeled to many projects, including the construction of 134,000 housing units, 3,600 kilometers of roads, and 1,400 schools and training centers. 

Kuntoro ensured the accountability of the BRR management, citing good reviews by the Supreme Audit Agency for its 2007 financial report and by the State Ministry for Administrative Reforms for its work performance in 2006 and 2007. 

“If you visit Aceh and Nias now, you will see the significant progress we’ve made.... You will see that people’s lives are improving; they are far better off than they were before. 

“This would have been impossible without the hard work of over 500 national and international organizations representing more than 50 countries. Therefore, I bestow my highest appreciation on you all,” Kuntoro said at the same event.

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