Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000

Drudge Report ^ | 12/30/04

[Keith Burwell]

Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000 Thu Dec 30 2004 12:52:01 ET

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The death toll in Acheh, the region worst hit by last Sunday's tsunami, may exceed 400,000 as many affected areas could still not be reached for search and rescue operations, Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Drs H. Rusdihardjo said Thursday.

He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had "disappeared".

He said the latest death toll of more than 40,000 in Acheh and northern Sumatera did not take into account the figures from the other areas, especially in the west of the region.

"Aerial surveillance found the town of Meulaboh completely destroyed with only one buiding standing. The building, which belonged to the military, happens to be on a hill," he told reporters after receiving RM1 million in aid for Indonesia's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund here Thursday.

Rusdihardjo said there were about 150,000 residents in Meulaboh, which was located 150km from the epicentre of the earthquake while Pulau Simeuleu had a population of 76,000.

The contributions were from several corporate giants.

Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), represented by Chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, gave RM200,000; Guthrie, represented by Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Wahab Maskan, gave RM200,000; Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, represented by Group Director for Corporate, Legal and Public Affairs Norlin Abdul Samad, gave RM200,000; Maybank, represented by Head of Public Affairs Wan Norhiyati Ibrahim, gave RM200,000 and Sime Darby Group's Motor Division, represented by Director Yip Jon Khiam, also gave RM200,000.

Ahmad Sarji also handed over a PNB contribution to Utusan's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund, which was received by Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Executive Chairman Tan Sri Hashim Makarudin to help Malaysian tsunami victims.

Ambassador Rusdihardjo said a combination of earthquake and tsunami had left 80 to 100 per cent of infrastructure in Acheh province, such as hospitals, health centres, transport and communication networks and homes, destroyed.

"Looking at the scale of destruction, it's difficult to say when the search and rescue operations can be mounted in all affected areas," he said.

He said rescue efforts were hampered by transportation difficulties and lack of fuel.

Rusdihardjo said that at this time international help, especially in the form of medicines, clean water, food and clothing, were desperately needed by Indonesia to aid survivors in Acheh.

"Now we are worried about the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, the work of disposing corpses and the absence of clean water following the contamination of water sources," he said.

[stlnative]

Intelligence report: Bin Laden sought Indonesian base
Counterterrorism experts say he also checked out Yemen

http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/07/09/indo.binladen

From Maria Ressa
CNN Correspondent

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) --Intelligence officials tell CNN that Osama bin Laden wanted to move the base of operations for his al Qaeda terrorist network from Afghanistan to Southeast Asia in 2000.

The plan, according to these officials' intelligence report, was to move the base to Aceh in Indonesia, where members of the Free Aceh movement (or GAM) were working with al Qaeda.

Aceh is a remote Muslim province in which rebels have fought for a separate Islamic state for decades. Bin Laden's No. 2, Egyptian Ayman Al-Zawahiri visited Aceh with al Qaeda's former military chief, Mohammed Atef, in June 2000.

"Both of them were impressed by the lack of security, the support and extent of Muslim population," reads the intelligence report made available to CNN. "This visit was part of a wider strategy of shifting the base of Osama bin Laden's terrorist operations from the subcontinent to Southeast Asia."

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Your right,, they might just take our aid, then tell us to leave.
But, this will not change their attitude towards us.

[RayChuang88]

The 400,000 figure is probably going to be low.

The very sad part is that you may be right. Indonesian military sources have said most of the larger towns on the western shore of northwestern Sumatra have been completely wiped out from this disaster, based on aerial surveillance.

The part that still bothers me is that both Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma) have reported very little casualties from this disaster. Burma has a pretty substantial coastline exposed to that tsunami, and most of Bangladesh is the Ganges River Delta, a low-lying area that is EXTREMELY vulnerable to any strong wave action from the Bay of Bengal.

And to still think that we're lucky the earthquake happened relatively early in the morning. If the earthquake had occurred just two hours later there would have been MANY more people at the shorelines of the countries affected, and the death toll just from the earthquake and tsunami waves could have reached 1,000,000.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Well,, conditions are well suited for that to happen in those areas now.
You have warm , hot muggy areas with standing stagnant water sitting around, you have dead bodies that are decaying, prime conditions for diseases to spread. You have the potential situation that more people will die from disease than the actual tsunami and earthquake. If not stopped, it could become a worldwide epidemic and pestilence.

[TFine80]

What's most interesting about this element of Aceh's make-up and past is not about damage to an Islamic area. I think this logic is sick.

HOWEVER: I have trouble imagining how the Islamists can interpret this attack as anything else but a punishment from God for their activities. Especially when you consider that it occured on Christmas (not necessarily Jesus's true birthday -- but a day when many Christians were praying for protection and 'love' for their enemies). And then you add the Bam attack at the same time a year ago. If I were an Islamist or an Al-Qaida terrorist, these events would present a significant challenge to my world-view. You think about the major areas of anti-American and terrorist activity in the Islamic world:

Afghanistan: Government Toppled
Indonesia: Massive Earthquake
Iran: Massive Earthquake
Iraq: Government Toppled
Pakistan: Aggressive Pursuit of Terrorists

On top of this, I think that this event blocks most short-term sympathy/support that Al-Qaida would gain from a massive attack in the US. At least for the meantime, I think the world is tired of death.

[I_dmc]

Odd request. Anyone have a globe handy? I'm wondering if you go from the epicenter through the center of the earth, where you would come out on the other side?

[dandelion]

Dear, dear WF, I wish we could wrap our arms around you and comfort you and all your friends.

[stlnative]

I think the world is tired of death.

It may not be only the world that is tired of it. Even if it is a message from GOD or if it is not, many will probably think that it is.

Only time will tell us what will come from it.

-----------------

Now for something really off the wall!

How amazing would be if Osama Bin Laden had been hiding in the Northern part of Aceh? (highly doubtful of course)

[oreolady]

What do you think the muslims reason about this disaster according to their "allah"? ( I guess that's what they call big guy?)
I wonder if it shakes their so-called faith?
Anyone have any knowledge of muslim = disaster/tradgedy explanations?
Fortunately, Christians have the Bible to lead them and explain, if they are not "blinded" to the Word.

[TFine80]

It's a good question. Because I distinctly remember that after the Shuttle explosion, many Islamist groups and Arab papers were saying that it reflected God's anger about US actions.

If that reflected anger, what is this??

[I Gig Gar]

Wrong.

Helping someone is the right thing to do. Nothing specifically "Christian" about it.

It's not real hard to figure out if you don't have an agenda.

[CDHart]

This tragedy is beyond the scope of our abilities to grasp it, I think. May God give all of us the peace and strength and healing so that we may pray for all who are involved, in Jesus' name.

Carolyn

[Phantom Lord]

I didn't think a sarcasm tag was neccessary, but maybe it was. Seems some people thought I was being supportive of the UN's laughable plans.

[Brian Allen]

<< Incredible if true. Sometimes the mind just cannot comprehend that much death and destruction. >>

Maybe a little help to put the numbers in perspective will assist:

So far this year more than two million Africans have died on that dark-ages-like continent from the group of diseases swept up under the "HIV/AIDS" umbrella and close to three millions more have died there from diseases resulting from dirty water and a lack of basic hygene.

And scores of thousands more have been and continue to be the the victims of various united-nations' koffi-annan-sanctioned and supervised slaughters and genocides.

[agrace]

I certainly have read that the Indonesian Muslims have been extremely brutal to Christians and other non-Muslims, destroying churches and houses as well as maiming and murdering Christians, often forcing them to run for their lives into the mountains. One group in particular called Laksar Jihad has treated Christians horrifically, and there is another group called Jemaah Islamiyah that's linked to Al Qaeda and the Bali bombings.

Here's Voice of the Martyrs page for Indonesia - http://www.persecution.net/country/indonesia.htm

[Brian Allen]

These from my [Singapore] home church, Saint Andrews Anglican Cathedral:

[1]

Subject: Internal memo from our Vicar - disaster relief for earthquake/tsunami victims
From: "Achema" Date: Thu, Dec 30, 2004 3:11 am To: "Friends in church"

Dear All,

Shalom. By now I am sure you are aware that great help is needed to aid those who were affected by the great tsunami waves on 26 Dec04. (Today's Straits Times quoted UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs as saying that "relief operations would be the biggest ever")

Here are some course of actions Cathedral is taking in aid of the victims:

1. Starting from 31st Dec Covenant Service, a Crisis Relief Fund envelope, together with a pastoral letter on this matter, will be inserted into our Church bulletins. Pastoral staff are encouraged to make the appeal to members during annoucements at service.

2. Cathedral will participate in collecting blankets and clothes for the victims in Aceh. Basically, there is an immediate need for usable clothes, and so we are collecting and shipping usable clothes (and possibly blankets) to Batam, where our Anglican bretherens in Indonesia will help to coordinate and distribute the items to the victims in Aceh.

Temporarily, the collected items will be stored in Cathedral, and shipped to the centralised collection point in St. Andrew's Centre (Tanjong Pagar) when it is up and running. Collection can begin on Monday 3rd January 05, and we need many hands and legs to help in the filtering, sorting and packing work. When the centre is up, volunteers are also needed to help in the sorting/packing work there.

So far, I know of 2 volunteers who are willing and able to assist in this. May I seek your help to (1) mobilize our members, and (2) refer anyone that you know is interested and able, to contact Mrs Mabel Lim at 63376104 ext 129, or mabeltan@livingstreams.org.sg

3. While no concrete plans are in place, it is very likely that teams will be sent up to Sri Lanka and other other areas to assist in the relief work there. A crisis relief team is leaving for Sri Lanka this coming Tuesday to be briefed on what help is needed. In the meantime, do take note of those who indicate that they are willing to go on such trips, as once details are out, we can contact them.

Thank you for your partnership in this.

In Him, Kim Seng

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

[2]

Subject: Saintt Andrew's Cathedral e-Bulletin 31 Dec 2004 From: "St Andrew's Cathedral" Date: Thu, Dec 30, 2004 11:31 pm To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;@

This is an e-bulletin of St Andrew's Cathedral Online. This email is only sent to people who request it, or have corresponded with us in the past. If you ever want to stop (or start) receiving the e-bulletin, you'll find instructions at the end of this email.

LETTER FROM BISHOP JOHN CHEW, DIOCESE OF SINGAPORE

30 December 2004

The Tsunami Disaster: Information Note and Update

The Tsunami Disaster that emanated from northern Sumatra four days ago needs no introduction. Two of the deanery-countries where the Diocese is having ministry have been directly affected – Thailand and Indonesia, although none of our churches (both buildings and church-communities) are affected. But it is precisely in such an hour that the Lord's command to 'love your neighbour as yourself' takes on added significance.

Like many other people and organisations in the world, we are responding full-scale to this very grave situation. Some of our Thai Anglican church leaders from Bangkok are already in the affected areas to assess at first hand what we can do. Click here [ http://www.anglican.org.sg/tsunami%20disaster%20-%20update%2030%20dec%2004%20(final).pdf ] (PDF file) for more.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE OFF THE COAST OF ACEH, INDONESIA AND THE TSUNAMIS THAT FOLLOWED

The National Council of Churches, Singapore will be holding a Prayer Service for the victims affected by the recent earthquake and the tsunamis that followed. Brief details are as follows:

Date: Friday 7th January 2005 Time: 7.30 pm sharp Venue: St. Andrew’s Cathedral 11 St. Andrew’s Road Singapore 178959

We encourage you to come together for a time of prayer as we remember the victims of all the countries affected by this very sad tragedy. We will also want to pray and give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for those Relief Organizations and Agencies rendering humanitarian aid to these victims.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[3]

Subject: more events - disaster relief for earthquake/tsunami victims From: "Achema" Date: Fri, Dec 31, 2004 12:09 am To: "Friends in church"

To date we have received many responses from our members who wish to help, be it financially, providing old clothing, going onsite to help etc. Praise God for that!

To facilitate the collection, sorting and packing of clothes, we have designated Wednesday 5th January to be the drop-in day. Members who wish to give clothing etc towards the cause can drop the clothes off at Tentage on Wednesday.

HOWEVER, given the overwhelming response, and the potential for shipment bottlenecks etc, please do let members know that cash is best.

As for helpers, there will be a volunteer response form inserted into this week's bulletin, for members to sign up.

(taken from the response form)

The first category is for people who will do work within Singapore. Two jobs are presently identified – helping out in the centralised collection centre in St. Andrew's Centre in Tanjong Pagar, and the manning of a crisis relief operation room that is being set up. (Mabel wrote) We also need volunteers to help sort and pack the collections on Wednesday 5th Jan.

The second category of volunteers will join crisis relief teams to be deployed in the affected areas. Volunteers will be in the field for up to two weeks, and are expected to pay for their own travel and other expenses.

Please encourage our members to sign up to help.

Thanks.

Mabel Lim St. Andrew's Cathedral

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: National Council Of Churches of Singapore [mailto:nccs@starhub.net.sg] Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 12:50 PM Subject: Prayer Service

31 December 2005

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

Prayer for the Victims of the Earthquake off the Coast of Aceh, Indonesia and the tsunamis that followed

The National Council of Churches, Singapore will be holding a Prayer Service for the victims affected by the recent earthquake and the tsunamis that followed. Brief details are as follows:

Date: Friday 7th January 2005

Time: 7.30 pm sharp

Venue: St. Andrew’s Cathedral

11 St. Andrew’s Road

Singapore 178959

Please announce this information to your congregations and encourage your members to come together for a time of prayer as we remember the victims of all the countries affected by this very sad tragedy. We will also want to pray and give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for those Relief Organizations and Agencies rendering humanitarian aid to these victims.

For fuller details can you kindly contact our office at Tel. No. 6314 2883

With much grief and sadness,

Rev Canon Dr James Wong

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

With love and fellowship -- Brian

BUMPping

[expatguy]

With all due respect, I must humbly disagree.

Feeding your enemies is not a wise thing to do.

[superskunk]

Thanks for the link. I've heard of 'Voice of the Martyrs' and some of the horrific stories of brutality directed at Christians by the 'religion of peace'.

[Brian Allen]

<< Oh yeah, I forgot to say thanks for the post. I wasn't aware of the persecution of Christians there. Any info/sources you have would be great. >>

During just the past twenty-odd years, Indonesian muslims have raped and have sexually mutilated [Brutal post gang-rape clitorectomies] and/or have murdered close to three million [Often ethnic-Chinese] Christians.

Throughout Indonesia [Essentially a string of brutally-held-on-to islamist/Javanese colonies] the rape, mutalation and slaughter of Christians and other non-muslims continues apace.