Tb. Arie Rukmantara, Jakarta – Non-governmental organizations slammed the government Thursday for what they said was a lack of seriousness in handling the procession of disasters the country has experienced. This has resulted in a failure to protect citizens, they charged.
"The fact that the government did not speed up the deliberation of the disaster management bill and has yet to carry out comprehensive mapping of disaster-prone areas shows that it is not serious about managing the calamities that can occur at any moment across the archipelago," Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) executive director Chalid Muhammad told journalists.
Chalid said the government should have taken strategic and concrete steps to protect its citizens after a tsunami ravaged Aceh and Nias in 2004.
Besides failing to map disaster-prone areas, the activists said, the government has not disseminated information about the threats these areas face, and has not strengthened the capacity of people and institutions to deal with emergencies.
The inadequate response has increased the risks for Indonesians, who could face 60 or more disasters this year alone, Chalid said. He added that the costs would be counted in thousands of deaths and displacements, and billions of rupiah in losses.
"As part of the plan to face and mitigate disasters, we demand the government carry out such basic steps quickly, including allocating sufficient funds for disaster management," Chalid said.
On Tuesday, the government said it was running out of money for disaster-related emergency response, with less than Rp 100 billion left out of the Rp 500 billion set aside for the whole year.
Data from the Anti-Debt Coalition showed that the government allocated Rp 1.8 trillion for all disaster-related expenses this year, far lower than Rp 128.2 trillion earmarked to pay foreign debts.
"Indonesia has the option of asking creditor countries for a moratorium on debt due to force majeur (events beyond the government's control). The government should do that and use the money to help its citizens," said Binny Buchori of the Prakarsa Group, which researches civil society and globalization issues.
Rafendi Djamin of the Human Rights Working Group urged the government to immediately set up an independent body similar to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy people, equipment and money in the event of a disaster.
"It is the right of all Indonesians to have proper protection from disasters, and of the victims to get immediate and effective emergency aid," he said, adding that these prerogatives were guaranteed in the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
"Since the government ratified the covenant last year, it's their obligation to fulfill it," Rafendi added.