I didn't participate in the Tsunami rescue. I only remember pictures (that's why this blog is full of them) and nine years later I only recalled that we gave them invaluable help but the details had escaped me. Now I want to reproduce some of that courtesy of John Mcbeth piece in the ST today.
Defeated in the 2009 legislative elections, before being named a Cabinet minister, Mr Agung needs to realise that indulging in a blame game is helpful to no one when the health of Sumatrans is equally at risk. He also needs a timely reminder about how quickly Singapore responded on Dec 26, 2004.
Within three days, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had mounted its biggest-ever rescue and relief operation, code-named Operation Flying Eagle, with missions to Medan, Banda Aceh and Meulaboh and other parts of the region.
Because Indonesia was hampered by a minimal airlift capability, a twin-rotor SAF Chinook helicopter was the first to deliver relief aid to hard-hit Meulaboh on Aceh's devastated west coast with a shipment of water, food and medicine.
Later, the Singaporeans lifted Indonesian military satellite communication systems and relief teams into the town, along with a Telkomsel GSM base station. More aid was to follow, including money for the much-needed rehabilitation of Meulaboh's port.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Meulaboh within days of the tsunami. He, then Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and other officials spent 16 hours touring northern Sumatra to assess what other assistance they could provide. It is exactly what good neighbours are meant to do.
I hope this low life get cast out into the political wilderness and never return. He must be one of those SBY reluctantly installed as a senior minister in view of political and party realities.
Mr Kuntoro himself, who must have inwardly cringed at Mr Agung's callous display of indifference and ingratitude, had no reservations about calling Singapore's assistance "timely and invaluable".
"Their rebuilding of the pier in Meulaboh, as well as their hospitals there and in Nias, became the backbone of the whole rebuilding of west Aceh," he told The Straits Times. "The Singapore Red Cross and Mercy (Relief) were among a number of Singaporean organisations which supported us very strongly. I owe them a lot."
I imagine our PM in his letter to their president might have reminded how rapidly we rushed to Indonesia aid whilst they dragged their feet when we needed theirs. Indeed it is a giant lesson for all Singaporeans what we can expect from Indonesia in future. They are a liability when weak and a menace if they become strong. Then they can't help losing face and afterward they don't earn the keep to have face.The Indonesians have a long way from the deep bottom to show us that they can be a good neighbor. Spare me the insult of calling us brothers. That is not how members of the family behave, especially the elder brother.
The next time they have a natural disaster in Sumatra, Singaporeans wouldn't be as forthcoming as before but reports of civilians suffering might make us change our mind. The onus is on Indonesia to repair the damage because we can't. Don't wait till the next big one hits.
How many Ah-gong WhyUdonno do they have? What is their chances of running the show?
Update: 5:00pm
I could have created a new post instead of an update. I do this to bring balance after directing my anger at some Indonesian ministers.
ST Joyce Lim and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja have given us a human face to the haze.
I'm not able to put up each story easily and so the title summaries for each one would serve that purpose. Click on pic.
One is clueless. Another has lost everything. The man in charge of putting out the fire is under a lot of pressure and how he is coping - Thanks to him! The woman thought she was environmentally friendly to burn and the fisherman took everything in his stride when he can't go out to fish - that's life. For obvious reasons we cannot accept that.
This is a very difficult problem to solve.
Update: 9:40pm
Amazing how the hotspots could just rise and fall so rapidly. I hope we get to understand how this is achieved. Looks like Mr. Budiarto (the guy in the middle above) has led his team to achieve the impossible? If they are that good and as long as they are committed to repeating this feat as needed, what is there to worry? But I am sure something is missing. I want to know how they got lucky.
Source: NEA
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