INFID, March 28, 2005
Recommended Standards for Re-Construction of
Tsunami-Affected Areas of Indonesia
The International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) is a network of
international and Indonesian non-governmental organizations working in the field of
advocacy for a just and democratic development in Indonesia.
INFID believes that the reconstruction of Aceh and North Sumatra resulting from the
December 26, 2004 Tsunami disaster is reaching a crucial point. This is particularly
true for the release of the Master Plan for Aceh Reconstruction by the Government of
Indonesia that was prepared without adequate consultation with the affected people
and the civil society in those regions. To ensure that the reconstruction is effective
and in line with the needs, rights, and wishes of the affected people, it is important to
set out recommendations for the reconstruction process for all involved –
governments, inter-governmental organizations, NGOs, community and other civil
society. Reconstruction is understood as the physical reconstruction, rehabilitation of
livelihoods, medical and post-traumatic treatment, and all forms of strengthening civil
society.
1. The world community has responded to the Tsunami with enormous generosity,
and many pledges of support have been made. We hope that the commitments
reflected in those pledges are timely and fully met.
2. Those undertaking reconstruction projects or activities, whether they are
governments, inter-governmental organizations, NGOs, community and other civil
society organizations should ensure transparency and accountability for the use of all
reconstruction funds in a public manner. As a starting point, the government should
disclose amounts pledged, amounts received, and the related purposes to which such
funds have been put.
3. Aggression by all parties must be ended and steps taken toward a peaceful and
equitable settlement of conflicts.
4. The reconstruction and rehabilitation work must be demilitarized. The involvement of
the military in reconstruction should be regularly reconsidered with a view to reduce it
to complete non-involvement.
5. As a priority, the Government of Indonesia's Master Plan for reconstruction must
provide for a process that will lead to effective coordination of the work and should
ensure that there is a mechanism to identify specific responsibility for projects and/or
activities so that respective parties can be held accountable.
6. No coordination plan or other restrictions by military or other authorities should
undermine the ability and opportunity for independent monitoring of reconstruction
work or the access of monitors to affected areas, in particular to all of Aceh.
7. All reconstruction work should be designed in a way to ensure that those affected
by such work are given a meaningful role in the planning and implementation of
relevant projects or activities. All projects and activities include appropriate measures
to ensure the ability to participate, and ideally provide capacity building as requested.
8. Displaced persons should not be obliged to live in centralized camps, but
opportunity should be provided for semi-permanent housing in the vicinity of their
respective former neighbourhood in order not to rule out the possibility of permanent
housing according to their desires and needs.
9. Orphans, widows, and the elderly should receive protection and care preferably in
their respective extended families or their former community. These hosts should
receive appropriate financial assistance.
10. The government should develop appropriate mechanisms to establish the rights of
those affected by the Tsunami to land ownership and use. Evidence of any reliable
kind, not be limited to documentation, should be accepted. Relevant state agencies or
aid organizations should ensure that such a procedure to establish the rightful owner
or user of land has taken place before such land is appropriated for reconstruction
activities.
11. The debt burden of the Republic of Indonesia needs to be addressed. We
recognize that creditors have offered a limited moratorium, but this falls short of
addressing the debt burden in a fair and sustainable way. The moratorium that has
been offered includes questionable elements including the accrual of interest during
the moratorium period. In addition, creditors holding outstanding loans related
infrastructure projects destroyed by the Tsunami, should cancel the remaining debt for
said projects.
12. Reconstruction and development must be equitable over all of Aceh and North
Sumatra in order to avoid welfare disparities and ensuing causes for new social
conflicts. There should be no discrimination or distinction for the receipt of
rehabilitation and reconstruction services on the basis of religion, ethnicity, gender,
social class, or political affiliation. However, affirmative action should be taken to
assist marginalized groups and minorities.
13. Reconstruction activities must not be misused to cover up economic activities for
private profit.
14. Access to areas in need of reconstruction should be open to all NGOs,
community and other civil society organizations and individuals that commit
themselves to peaceful reconstruction.
15. The Government of Indonesia should provide political and administrative conditions
to facilitate effective planning and implementation of medium and long term
reconstruction activities of aid and development organizations, both foreign and
domestic.
16. Reconstruction efforts will necessarily put pressure on natural resources of
Indonesia, and particularly increase the risk of illegal logging. Efforts should be made
to ensure that, to the degree possible, sustainable resources are utilitized for
reconstruction. The rights of those affected by the Tsunami to use their own natural
resources should not be infringed or undermined.
17. Peaceful and participative conflict resolution efforts should be encouraged by all.
Projects and activities should be designed to promote that objective.
Jakarta, 28/03/2005
Ivan A. Hadar
Executive Director
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