Aceh
Helping the 'Asian way'
None of ther Singaporean soldiers wears sunglasses in front of locals. They consider it rude, Indonesian journalist Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post.
Jan 21, 2005

Meulaboh, Aceh - It came as no surprise when the trucks full of soldiers with familiar faces passing along the main streets of Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh were greeted by waving children and adults yelling "Singaporeans, Singaporean soldiers have arrived".

As the first of the foreign troops to enter Meulaboh, almost 80 percent of which was devastated by the Dec. 26 disaster, the Singaporean Defense Force has paved the way for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the small town.

Life has gradually been returning in the harbor town. While few fishermen are brave enough to set out to sea, the town has been almost completely cleared of rubble and flotsam, while the market and stores have reopened.

"The town is getting busier day by day - traffic jams everywhere. It's a good sign," Col. Tan Chuan-jin, who commands the entire relief operation being mounted from three Singaporean warships - RSS Endurance, RSS Persistence and RSS Endeavor -- lying anchor off Meulaboh, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday evening.

The neighbouring country immediately responded to the disaster by sending medical supplies and other forms of assistance to Aceh's capital city, Banda Aceh, and Medan, North Sumatra.

The Singaporean Defence Force later decided to focus relief efforts on Meulaboh, where access by road had been cut by the tsunami.

The unarmed troops have been busy restoring the shore and roads, and cleaning up the city. They have also constructed two landing pads for helicopters.

"Time is critical, we have to open up access," said Tan, who is the previous former military attache in Jakarta.

Following the reopening of the road from Medan and the construction of the helipads, more relief workers and aid supplies have been arriving in Meulaboh.

The Singaporean armed forces initiated a coordination system with the Indonesian authorities in Meulaboh, ensuring that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) only brought in what the displaced people and locals actually needed. "We have to work as a team," the commander said.

From RSS Endurance, Tan commands "Singapore's biggest military operation ever", organising the work of up to 800 personnel - including medical teams, and members of the Singapore Red Cross and NGOs.

He also has at his disposal six Chinooks and two Superpuma helicopters, dozens of bulldozers, diggers, excavators, forklifts, tractors, trucks and other vehicles.

Despite the humid and sunny weather of the coastal area, none of the soldiers wear sunglasses, especially among locals, as they find it "rude and un-Asian".

The fatigue endured by the soldiers, who are mostly conscripts and have to travel from the vessel to shore every day at 7 am and sail back at 5 pm, before completing their duties on board by 10:30 pm, were quickly dispelled by the well-wishes and prayers sent by Singaporean elementary school students.

Scaling down their operation in Meulaboh, which started on New Year's Eve, the soldiers will sail off on the eve of the Idul Adha (Islamic day of sacrifice) holiday on Jan 21, after the Muslim troops among the contingent celebrate the big day with locals.

Singaporeans contributed 20 buffaloes

The Singaporean Defense Force has contributed 20 buffaloes to be slaughtered for the festivities at several camps.

"We have set up a system here which can be continued by other organisations that have better capabilities than we have and will continue to deliver humanitarian assistance from Singapore and various NGOs and international organisations," Tan remarked.

The Singaporean troops have also established a temporary command centre that can be used by whoever takes their place "as a symbol of the start of reconstruction in Meulaboh".

"Although we were the first to arrive, it doesn't mean we're the last to stay. I hope it means the relationship between the two countries is getting stronger," Tan said.
Jakarta Post