Tsunami Victims Demand Reconstruction Funds
Tuesday, 08 April, 2008 | 16:00 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banda Aceh: As many as 300 tsunami victims from the West and South coasts of Aceh have rejected the policy of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Board (BRR) for Aceh and Nias regarding assistance and reconstruction funds of Rp2.5 million for each family.

They insist on staying at the Lueng Bata mosque, 200 meters from the BRR office in Banda Aceh, until the demanded funds of Rp15 million per family are received in full.

Rahmat Hidayat, the community spokesperson, said that the BRR policy for the 2008 budget was unacceptable.

Based on Presidential Regulation 30/2005, the sum of Rp15 million per family had been decided as aid funding for tsunami victims.

“We insist on staying here,” said Rahmat in Banda Aceh yesterday.

The amount, he said, had been approved through meetings between residents, provincial government officials and BRR officials at the governor's office.

The result stated the funding for victims would refer to the presidential regulation.

“This situation is dangerous and could create conflict,” said Abdullah Saleh, a member of the Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DDPR).

The Aceh governor, Irwandi Yusuf, said that the BRR had to change its policy so that it was in line with the presidential regulation.

Head of BRR, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, said that the BRR could not fulfill this demand.

“Some of the houses have already been repaired by their owners and we cannot differentiate between these and those damaged by the tsunami,” he said in a press release.

The policy of providing aid of Rp2.5 million had been studied carefully.

It will not only be given to resident on the West and South coasts, but to all tsunami victims, including those in Nias, North Sumatra.

“So it is not true that we are making more problems,” said Kuntoro.

adi warsidi