Indonesia is undercutting a badly needed effort to rebuild south Asia in the wake of last month's devastating tsunami. Its military announced last week it would restrict the free movement of foreign aid workers, and a day later the country called for foreign troops to leave by March. The moves come as the United Nations is organizing the largest-ever disaster relief effort and the Bush administration is crafting its long-term reconstruction package. Indonesia's poor sense of timing and hyper-concern for its sovereignty could prolong the misery for thousands of its citizens.
The global response to the Dec. 26 disaster, which killed at least 157,000 people in 11 Indian Ocean countries, has been a remarkable display of generosity from individuals and governments. Jan Egeland, the United Nations' chief of humanitarian affairs, said the $717-million for disaster relief was the largest-ever pledged by the world community, and officials expect that aid for reconstruction could push the final figure well above $4-billion.
President Bush is crafting a redevelopment package in the wake of a site visit and report by a team headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother. The Paris Club of wealthy nations has agreed to allow the tsunami-hit countries to suspend debt payments, freeing up much-needed money. Some in Asia also hope to rebound by inducing the United States and Europe to lower trade barriers.
Given the generous assistance and the need for sustained reconstruction help, Indonesia was short-sighted to put domestic politics ahead of a larger need to improve its nation's health and security. The picture of American military forces and relief workers operating freely in the world's most populous Muslim country could arouse anti-Western sentiment. A group of Indonesia's most influential Islamic clerics called attention to the point Friday by warning relief workers not to proselytize or use the disaster as cover to encourage foreigners to adopt orphaned children.
U.S. relief efforts are not about improving American standing in the Islamic world, although that could be one of the benefits. Our generosity is about helping the victims of the tsunamis. At least nine countries have committed troops to the relief effort. The United States, Singapore, Spain and others are complementing aid groups delivering the basics by bringing helicopters, bulldozers and hospitals to isolated areas.
Indonesian officials have started to soften their remarks in recent days, as aid groups made clear they would operate freely and as Western governments sought to smooth over what could become a public relations crisis. Indonesia maintains the restrictions are needed to protect relief workers in areas populated by separatist rebels that the country has fought for 30 years.
This is a dangerous game for Indonesia to play if aid workers are seen as agents of the government's military policy. The United States and Indonesia share an interest in preventing an Islamic backlash and rushing to prevent the housing, health and security situation from deteriorating further. That's the whole point of following up the massive airlift of tents, bottled water and cooking supplies with real money to rebuild. The nation hardest hit by the tsunami needs its friends in the west to help make that happen.
