[Kabar-indonesia] 6 Tempo 'Aceh Today' Reports: Law Not Set In Stone; Rescheduled Elections?

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

6 Tempo Magazine Aceh Today Reports: 

- Aceh Law Not Set in Stone 

- Rescheduled Elections? 

- White Giant in the Aceh Sea 

- Rebuilding for the Future 

- Lesson from Lam Teungoh 

- Events: incl: Pulo Villagers 
  Expect Housing Aid; Production 
  Woes for Langsa KTPs (identity 
  cards); and BRR Road Projects 
  Suspended 

Tempo Magazine 
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Aceh Today 

Aceh Law Not Set in Stone 

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Agus Laksono, says the new 
law on the governing of Aceh is not immutable. Laksono, commenting on strong 
public reaction in Aceh over the recent enactment of the law by the DPR, said 
on Tuesday last week that the law is not a "holy book that cannot be amended." 

Laksono said any change to the Aceh law should be sought in a constitutional 
manner. "But it is better to have the law implemented first," Laksono added. 
"Any amendment should not be made just for a transient purpose." 

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) charged that the law ran counter to the 
memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Indonesian government in Helsinki in 
August 2005. GAM cited two articles in the law which it said were not in 
conformity with the peace accord. 

GAM objected to the use of the word "consideration" instead of "of approval" 
in Article 8 paragraph 2 of the law which provides that: "The plan for the 
formulation of laws directly connected with Aceh governance by the House of 
Representatives shall be realized after consulting and obtaining the consideration 
of the Aceh DPRD." 

GAM also objected to the wording of Article 11 paragraph 1 of the law which 
reads: "The government shall determine norms, standards, and procedures and 
conduct supervision over the management of affairs undertaken by Aceh regency and 
city administrations." It said the article diminishes the status of Aceh as a 
special region. 

GAM leader Malik Mahmud said the central government should not distort the 
authority of the local government in Aceh nor interfere in its internal affairs. 
Neither should the government determine the norms and procedures in the 
management of affairs in Aceh, Mahmud added. "Let the local government and DPRD 
(Regional House of Representatives) determine these norms and procedures." 

Malik said the Helsinki agreement clearly provided that independence was no 
longer an issue. "What we have is only separation of authority between Aceh and 
the central government," he said. "Everything remains within the frame of the 
unitary state of the republic of Indonesia." 

It is not just GAM but many other organizations in Aceh have also expressed 
reservations about the new law. The Aceh Democracy Network, for instance, has 
called for a revision of the law. "Jakarta has not fully delegated the 
authority to govern to the local government in Aceh," said Rufriad, a JDA activist. 

Despite a threat by GAM to bring the issue to the Aceh Monitoring Mission, 
DPR Speaker Laksono believed AMM won't ask for a change in the Aceh law. He said 
the law precisely aimed at ending the conflict in Aceh once and for all. "The 
MoU itself has also been signed based on the 1945 Constitution." 

AMM, for its part, has so far considered the Aceh law to be in conformity 
with the MoU. At least that is what AMM head Pieter Feith stated at a recent 
meeting of the Commission on Security Arrangement (CoSA). 

Eva Kusuma Sundari, member of the DPR Commission on Law, has asked GAM to 
accept the Aceh law." If members of GAM still consider themselves Indonesian 
citizens, they should accept the law," she said. 

Still, other members didn't rule out the possibility of the law being 
amended. Only, they said, it would not come about in the immediate future. -- Imron 
Rosyid, Raden Rahmadi 
 
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Tempo Magazine 
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Aceh Today 

Rescheduled Elections? 

ONLY a week after the Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), the 
Governor of Aceh, the Aceh Monitoring Mission and the Independent Election 
Commission recommended that the election of Aceh regional heads be held at the end of 
November, the election date is likely to be pushed back further. 

To date no agreement has been reached on a revision of a local law that will 
set the date of the first direct elections in the province. Many civilian 
groups, including NGOs, have warned against rushing the revision of the law. With 
the participation of more civilian groups in the revision of the law, a better 
environment is expected, minimizing election-related conflict. 

Recommendations have been made on the division of the role and authority of 
the election commission (KIP) and its secretariat, with the KIP restricted to 
only dealing with policy matters and the secretariat with the management of its 
financial affairs to prevent misappropriation that has marred many local 
elections in other parts of the country 

KIP officials said time was needed to prepare the election. Assuming the 
revision of the law is completed before the end of this month, KIP has scheduled 
the election to be held on December 10, or four months after the law. 

Earlier on Wednesday last week, KIP Chairman M. Jaffar said preparations had 
been in high gear for the election known by its acronym pilkada. Only, he 
added, no definite date of voting could be fixed; that would depend on the 
completion of the revised law. 

When will this happen? According to Aceh DPRD Speaker Sayed Fuad Zakaria, 
revision of the law is entering the final stage of completion. "Insh Allah, the 
revised law will be completed before the end of the week," he said last Monday. 
A plenary session of the DPRD has been scheduled for the second week of 
August when the revised law is expected to be adopted by the DPRD. 

DPRD sources said only a few adjustments were needed to bring the revised law 
in line with the recently enacted law on the governing of Aceh. A review by a 
special DPRD team of all 36 items of adjustments submitted by the local 
government has reportedly been completed. One of the hardest items was the role of 
the KIP in the pilkada. 

Also at issue was the proposal to increase the number of KIP members to 13 
from seven as provided under the Aceh law. A strong emphasis was put on the need 
to prevent misappropriation on the operation of KIP and to punish those 
guilty of such an offense.  

What of the requirements that candidates for the election should be 
Qur'an-literate? Apparently the revised law would make such requirements applicable 
only to Muslim candidates. Non-Muslim candidates would be subject only to their 
professed faith as provided under the Aceh Law. 

With the completion of the revised law set for the second week of August, the 
Aceh pilkada will most likely be pushed further back to December. 
Representatives from the local provincial and district governments, councils and the 
central government, agreed at a meeting in Banda Aceh on July 26 for the election 
to be held 120 days after the completion of the revised election law. "The 
definite date will be fixed at a plenary meeting of the election commission," 
said acting Aceh Governor Mustafa Abubakar. -- Farida Sendjaja 
 
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Tempo Magazine 
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Aceh Today 

White Giant in the Aceh Sea 

ONE-year-old Ihsan was almost­ motionless, his head stuck to the chest of his 
mother,­ Sapiah. His mother stroked his forehead carefully. Ihsan's head 
weighed no less than 5 kilograms. Hydrocephalus was the reason for his condition. 
"He got it from the womb," said the 30-year-old woman, drawing back the head 
cover of her baby boy. 

The housewife from Masjid Raya, Samalanga, Bireun had tried various ways to 
relieve the pain plaguing her child. However, all the hospitals she had visited 
were unable to conduct surgery and she was losing hope. 

"From Bireun I was referred to Banda Aceh, from Banda Aceh to the Adam Malik 
Hospital, Medan, but they could not help," lamented Sapiah. 

On Sunday last week, Sapiah was 3 miles off Banda Aceh. There, United States 
Naval Ship (USNS) Mercy was moored. Sapiah tried her luck on the hospital 
ship, 300 meters long and 350 meters wide. Ihsan was promptly diagnosed that 
afternoon. 

"I'm very glad to get free treatment here. I hope Ihsan will recover," said 
Sapiah before the American medical team called her name. 

Sadly, Sapiah's hopes were dashed the next morning. She had to pack up, go by 
boat onshore and leave USNS Mercy. "They (USNS Mercy personnel) said there 
was not enough time," explained Sapiah. 

The ship in fact did not stop long in Banda Aceh, only for eight days. 
Thereafter, the vessel, sailing at a speed of 17.5 knots, was scheduled to proceed 
to Kupang, Simeulu, Nias and Tarakan. 

This was not the first time the USNS Mercy has operated in the 
tsunami-stricken region. Eighteen months ago, when Aceh was struck by the deadly waves, the 
ship with 500 to 600 medical staff operated on more than 100 patients. "They 
were mostly bone operations," said Croft, a medical officer. And during that 
mission, it is estimated that more than 107,000 patients received treatment in 
one form or another. 

On the first day of its second call, there were at least 29 patients with 
various complaints, from bone fractures to cases similar to that of Ihsan. Boats 
moored at Ule Lheu transported the sick. 

"They came from Central Aceh, Bireun, Pidie, Banda Aceh and several other 
regencies," said Paul Dilon, a press officer of the International Organization of 
Migration (IOM), the NGO that carried first-batch patients.   

According to First Marshal A. Hidayat, head of medical staff at Indonesian 
Military HQ, USNS Mercy has no plan to call at Pangandaran, West Java, which was 
recently hit by a tsunami, because its administrative structure was not 
devastated to the extent suffered by Aceh. 

Though owned by the US military, this giant vessel is painted white rather 
than in camouflage. The ship, the size of three football fields, has a helipad. 
With seven floors, a 20-people-capacity lift is available besides corridors 3 
meters wide. 

"This ship is unique and sophisticated," said B. Lynn Pascoe, US Ambassador 
to Indonesia. He was not boasting. The former tanker even has a hangar for 
choppers in addition to a medical storehouse and a laboratory. 

Another facility is a ward with 250 beds. Under peak conditions, the number 
of beds can be increased to 1,000 units. More than that, the giant's belly also 
contains a radiology room and 12 operating theaters. The medical services 
provided include optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, physical therapy, 
radiological and laboratory services, dermatology, urology, general and plastic 
surgery, dental treatment as well as immunizations. However it is the CT Scan 
equipment having the ability to detect diseases which is probably the boat's 
most valued feature. 

 There are also 20 post-surgery beds and 80 couches for intensive-care 
patients. 

Wells, another medical officer, said a CT Scan examination would­ take only 
10 minutes to explore the whole body. Its picture can be directly transferred 
to all rooms. "It's fast. The picture can be sent to San Diego right away," 
said Mendoza, a radiological officer. 

Although the Mercy is primarily a medical ship, it is equipped with weapons. 
Its bow has an automatic gun. On the port and starboard decks two other guns 
can be found. That afternoon, two American women marines manned the guns. 

Since it left San Diego five months ago, for its operational costs the 
floating hospital, modified from a tanker in 1986, has spent US$22 million to US$28 
million. 

This time, besides its public health service, USNS Mercy also undertook a 
technology transfer program for medical personnel of the Zainoel Abidin Hospital, 
Banda Aceh, and the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Hospital. 

According to Navy Lt. Col. Heri Priyatna, 13 members of Indonesia's naval 
medical team joined the training in hopes of long-term benefits for the 
participants and their communities. "We learned a lot of technology as we are left far 
behind by other countries," said Heri. -- Maimun Saleh 
 
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Tempo Magazine
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Aceh Today 

Rebuilding for the Future 

TO provide pre-cut, panelized houses to Indonesian families who remain 
without permanent housing 19 months after the earthquake and tsunami in Aceh, Save 
The Children (SC), an NGO from England, got a new contract with Canadian 
supplier, Britco Structures, last Monday. It also has received support from the 
British Colombia Institute of Technology, which has agreed to provide training 
to their staff to supervise and train communities on how to assemble the houses 
in Aceh province. 

They will erect a first batch of 300 of the new pre-cut, panelized houses, 
with the first shipments due to arrive mid-September. This initiative is part of 
the agency's continuing efforts to address serious housing issues that have 
delayed construction of permanent homes. 

"We intend to replace or repair homes already built that fail to meet our 
construction standard," said Charles MacCormack, President and CEO, Save The 
Children USA. He added that SC had entered into contracts to build 708 homes. The 
agency's ongoing inspections had to date found that 371 homes need to be 
replaced, 200 require repairs and 137 are in various stages of completion, some 
requiring additional repairs. "We are committed to correcting these problems," 
MacCormack said. 

As a result of improper construction work, including the use of untreated 
timber, this NGO has reviewed and revised its construction program. "We 
temporarily suspended new construction and we continue to work with contractors to fix 
or replace homes that fail to meet our construction standards," MacCormack 
said. 

As known, SC is one of three international organizations alleged to have 
misappropriated relief funds for the tsunami victims in Aceh province (see Tempo 
June 12, 2006). Together with many other NGOs, SC is involved in post-tsunami 
reconstruction of Aceh and committed to building 3,660 houses, 94 schools, and 
70 public health facilities over a period of five years in Bireun, Pidie and 
Lhok Seumawe. Up until May 2006, 700 houses had been built. But the houses were 
later found to be defective. On average, low-quality materials were being 
used and this threatened the safety of the future occupants. SC acknowledged some 
deviations in implementation and promised to be more careful in their work, 
and to finish its projects. SC is also bringing its own pre-cut, panelized 
houses using a design very similar to the agency's original design based on 
traditional Acehnese housing architecture. 

According to MacCormack, Britco Structures is an established building 
specialist with sufficient resources to deliver high volumes of housing units. And 
timber is from sustainable and legal sources. Britco also has local 
representation in Indonesia, understands the cultural environment and can help ensure 
high-quality construction. In short, high-quality materials will be used now and 
won't threaten the safety of future occupants. 

They anticipate that communities, once trained, will require approximately 
four to five days to erect each home. "Sites are now being cleared in Aceh in 
anticipation of the new housing," MacCormack said. 

"Britco is proud to be part of this important reconstruction effort. We have 
designed and engineered a cost-effective, permanent and long-term solution 
that will have a real impact for dislocated families and children who were left 
homeless in the wake of the tsunami and the earthquake," said Mike Ridley, Vice 
President of Britco Structures. "This is about rebuilding communities, 
rebuilding families, rebuilding of hope and opportunity for thousands of children in 
Indonesia." 
 
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Tempo Magazine
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Aceh Today 

Lesson from Lam Teungoh 

Those who first returned after the tsunami joined hands to rebuild their 
village. 
Now Lam Teungoh has a new story. 

A GROUP of fishermen reached the shore of Lam Teungoh village in their boat. 
Carrying a basket of fish, they went to a coffee stall right on the corner of 
the village. They took a brief break, enjoyed a strong cup of coffee. This was 
one afternoon at the end of May 2006. 

Their hard day's catch was sold there right away. After the sale, they went 
straight home to rest, until the next morning. "Today's catch was a bit less 
than usual," said Ramdan, one of the fishermen. 

The local economy is getting back to normal in Lam Teungoh village, Peukan 
Bada, Greater Aceh. Ramdan and most villagers depend on fishing for a living. 
Facilities for fishing are there, though still minimal, such as boats, nets, 
even an ice factory and a fish auction center (TPI) in this village. 

Lam Teungoh has awoken and started a new chapter following the tsunami of 
December 26, 2004. The village was devastated, with buildings destroyed and trees 
totally uprooted. Thousands of people were killed or injured and survivors 
had to take refuge. "But we only evacuated for a month," recalled Ramdan. 

The havoc wreaked by the tsunami is still noticeable, with around 2 
kilometers of road leading to the village from Simpang Rima, Peukan Bada, under repair. 
Along the roads holes are covered with red soil; there is almost no more 
asphalt left. Some sections have gaping cracks, which are seemingly like war 
trenches. Housing construction on both sides of the roads is on the move. 

With passing cars causing small clouds of dust, several workers with 
heavy-duty equipment are repairing damaged parts. Grass is growing everywhere so that 
the area looks like no-man's land at first glance. Some plantations have been 
restored by locals, not only in Lam Teungoh but also in surrounding villages. 

Entering Lam Teungoh, one can watch the village brimming with life. It is 
obviously busy, with new settlements around and only a small part being rebuilt. 
Its land is also under cultivation, as its people look to abandon memories of 
the tsunami. 

Their saga began soon after the disaster, when Lam Teungoh people were 
recorded as the first to leave their refugee camp in Lampeuneurut, Greater Aceh, for 
home. At first, there were only a few dozen of them. They built their village 
while taking refuge, "Back home in the morning, in the camp at night," said 
Baharuddin, Keuchik (head) of Lam Teungoh village. 

Those returning are generally the physically and mentally stronger members of 
the village, who did clearance work and set up a village center by utilizing 
tsunami-swept wood. Several months later, they started resettling. 

The government originally prohibited people from residing there. The reason 
was that in its blueprint, this area with its coastal and hilly frontiers 
belonged to a danger zone where no settlements were allowed. But the villagers 
under Baharuddin insisted on resettling, perhaps inspired by the metaphor "a boil 
never appears in the same place." 

Then Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar once tried to coax them out of their desire 
to resettle, but they remained undaunted, carrying on their village 
rebuilding and fishing operations. Their honest toil paid off when a number of 
villagers returned home. The blueprint was thus reprocessed to suit local aspirations, 
permitting them to go home for proper reconstruction. 

At that time, aid began to flow into Lam Teungoh, ranging from food supplies 
to housing materials. A number of high-ranking officials and foreign guests 
visited the community. Local citizens rebuilt the village, planted coconut 
trees, coastal mangroves and other vegetation. Baharuddin acknowledged that all his 
people are now back on their feet with no memories of the past, as they had 
proper settlements, boats for fishermen and other capital aid. 

The village is now getting back to normal life. For rural administration, a 
village office has been set up, also serving as the residence of Baharuddin. 
This office is even equipped with a computer, typewriters and stationery, which 
are supplied by a non-governmental organization (NGO). 

The neat, light-green office is also decorated with flowers. In front of the 
building is the name board of the NGO, which displays the projects it had 
carried out, most being housing complexes already built. 

It is the first permanent building, a type-36 pilot house, erected since 
end-2005. Behind this house is the emergency home of Baharuddin, still intact. It 
now serves as a private museum with tsunami photographs. There are poems as 
well. "This is one of those in memory of my family," he said, pointing at a 
plywood wall. 

Baharuddin's is a sad story. His entire family was lost in the tsunami, 
leaving himself and his surviving people. But he said that he had recently proposed 
to a woman as he tries to move on with his life. 

A stone's throw from the house is a village polyclinic, with adequate medical 
equipment and supplies. "It's proper for a village with a population and a 
progressing economy," added Baharuddin. 

There is also a smooth water supply, derived by an NGO from a spring at the 
foot of a hill so that it is now distributed through pipes to the whole 
village. A primary school has also been set up for local children, in place of the 
one destroyed by the disaster. 

Baharuddin revealed that most of his people had been working as fishermen, 
plantation or watermelon growers, housing construction workers and also factory 
workers in the corner of the village. "Villagers here no longer rely much on 
aid as they are now already fairly independent," he pointed out. 

The village has eight fishing boats, four of them the asset of custom-based 
panglima laot. This asset can be used by all villagers under a guide in charge, 
so that part of their fish catch will serve to support the traditional 
seafaring organization of Aceh. 

At present Lam Teungoh has a population of 257 or about 193 families. For 
comparison, the village used to have 1,350 people. After the tsunami, there are 
46 orphans being cared for by local people. All families in Lam Teungoh have 
occupied new homes provided by an NGO. 

Though independent, one thing is still expected by Lam Teungoh. Its people 
hope that aid will be given to rid rice fields of tsunami rubble and other 
wreckage. Agriculture is the second livelihood in the village. Baharuddin indicated 
that the fields could not yet be utilized and men alone could not remove the 
waste, "as there are lots of big trees that can only be removed by 
bulldozers," he said. 

Lam Tengoh is a story of bright post-tsunami revival, with its survivors 
returning to their home village and rebuilding earlier than others. This is a rare 
story of success for Tsunami victims. It is now just a matter of time before 
the village is back to its old life. -- Adi Warsidi 
 
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Tempo Magazine
No. 48/VI
August 01 - 07, 2006 

Events

Aceh Today 

Pulo Villagers Expect Housing Aid 

SURVIVORS of the tsunami, hailing from Pulo village, Kuala district, Nagan 
Raya hope that the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Agency (BRR) and 
other donors will speedily provide aid for the rebuilding of their homes 
destroyed by the killer waves on December 26, 2004. As of now, the majority of 
homeless villagers of Pulo still occupy their temporary barracks in Padang Rubek 
village, Kuala district. When they receive housing aid, they promise to return 
home immediately to restart the normal life they used to lead before the tsunami 
disaster. 

At the end of July 2006, or 18 months after the tsunami, members of the Pulo 
village community living in the refugee barracks of Padang Rubek constituted 
70 families. Struggling to make ends meet has become part of the daily 
existence of the tsunami survivors. 

Still, the Pulo people continue to expect donors as well as BRR to pay heed 
to their village soon so that their destroyed homes can be reconstructed. 

Production Woes for Langsa KTPs 

THE Langsa municipal administration has only finished issuing 22,536 or 27 
percent of its required 84,341 national citizen's identity cards (KTPs). The 
rest are in the process of printing, according to Zakaria, head of the Langsa 
civil registry office. The minimal KTP completion so far has been due to various 
constraints, such as the lack of equipment and reliable computer operators. 

Zakaria acknowledged that despite BRR's assistance, it was not able to 
process the large number of KTPs because only three computers and a month's operator 
service were provided. To speed up the process of issuing KTPs by the civil 
registry office, Langsa Regional Secretary H. Azzubaidi A. Gani has added five 
more units along with their operators. 

The additional computers and operators are expected to complete the issuance 
of KTPs on time. This is important as the election of regional heads, which 
will take place sooooon simultaneously throughout Aceh, requires citizens of 
Langsa to possess KTPs as one of the conditions for being considered eligible 
voters. 

BRR Road Projects Suspended 

A NUMBER of road construction projects in Bireuen regency with BRR financing 
have been suspended and will be subjected to repeat tenders. 

Chairman of the BRR working unit in Bireuen, Sural Fuadi, confirmed that some 
projects of road development for the 2005 fiscal year in the area had to be 
suspended, as instructed by the BRR in Banda Aceh. The tenders for these 
projects will be repeated. 

He said the road construction handled by BRR in 2005 comprised the road 
leading to Rhop in Gandapura district and the one in Simpang Mamplan Samalanga, 
costing over Rp7 billion. In 2006, the project suspended is the road from Krueng 
Juli Timu to Kuala Raja. But as of now it cannot be determined when the 
projects will undergo repeat tenders because no clarification has been obtained from 
Banda Aceh. 

Profile of the Week 

HELEN Keller In­­ternational (HKI) is the oldest international nonprofit 
organization devoted to fighting and treating preventable blindness and 
malnutrition. Founded in 1915, HKI is headquartered in New York City, and has programs 
in 25 countries around the world. HKI builds local capacity by establishing 
sustainable programs, and provides scientific and technical assistance and data 
to governments and in­ter­na­tional, regional, national and local organizations 
around the world. The goal of all HKI programs is to reduce suffering of 
those without access to needed health or visions care and ultimately to help lift 
people from poverty. HKI has had an active presence in Indonesia since the 
early 1970s, for 30 years, and has had partnership with many organizations, 
including the Department of Health, UNICEF, Church World Service (CWS), CARE, and 
WFP, providing technical assistance to the Government of Indonesia's (GoI) 
vitamin A program than began with an evaluation in 1973. 

When tsunami 2004 hit Aceh and Nias province, HKI directly provided help and 
assistance for those in need especially in health. HKI is distributing vitamin 
A, iodized oil and dispersible zinc tablets to children under 5 years of age 
through an initiative called Supplementation with Micronutrients (SUM). The 
objective of HKI's SUM relief initiative is to lower the risk and severity of 
morbidity, to reduce mortality, and to increase the ability to reconstruct and 
rebuild livelihoods in the tsunami-affected areas of the provinces of Aceh and 
North Sumatra. 

HKI is distributing a monthly supply of multivitamins suitable for cooking or 
non-cooking conditions to enhance health. HKI also conducted a Rapid 
Emergency Assessment and Prioritization (REAP) to help coordinate relief efforts. 
 
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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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