JAKARTA, April 26 (Xinhua) — The European Commission has signed the second commitment agreement to provide Multi Donor Fund with 117.5 million euros to finance post-earthquake and tsunami reconstruction efforts in Nias and Aceh, Indonesia. Full text …
Archive for April, 2006 | Monthly archive page
Strong quake jolts Indonesia’s Sumatra
Wednesday, April 26th, 2006Jakarta – A strong earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Indonesia's Nias Island off the western coast of Sumatra early Wednesday, but there were no reports of structural damage or injuries, an official said. Full text …
BRR to open bidding for projects in Aceh, Nias
Monday, April 24th, 2006Monday, April 24, 2006
Rendi Akhmad Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR) plans to accelerate the bidding process for projects worth around Rp 7 trillion (some US$777 million) during the second quarter of this year.
The bidding, which will mostly consist of projects related to housing, schools and education programs, are part of the Rp 9.9 trillion in projects allocated for this year from the state budget, BRR chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said Sunday.
"During the first quarter, the agency has put into tender one-third of the allocated reconstruction funds," said Kuntoro after accompanying Vice President Jusuf Kalla in a meeting with the secretary-general of the Council of the European Union Javier Solana.
"We hope we can accelerate the (tender) process in order to maximize the reconstruction efforts. As you have know last year we only managed to spend 40 percent of the allocated funds for reconstruction," he added.
The funds exclude contributions from foreign donor countries or agencies, which will account for around 70 percent of reconstruction funds needed for this year.
The government expects that the reconstruction efforts in Aceh and Nias will help drive the country's economic activities this year at a time when the private sector is still facing the impact of last year's economic slowdown.
Indonesia's economy, Southeast Asia's largest, will depend heavily on government and consumer spending this year because higher interest rates and inflation are discouraging investment and are unlikely to recover until the third quarter of this year.
The BRR is constructing houses for the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Aceh and Nias in December 2004 and March 2005 respectively, which killed more than 150,000 people. The construction work will need a huge amount of cement, steel, bricks and wood.
The agency is planning to build about 120,000 houses to shelter about 500,000 displaced persons. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
Kuntoro also said that of a total $7.1 billion pledged by donor countries and agencies only around $4.6 billion had been committed thus far, with the remaining aid pledged to be followed up by the government.
The government established the agency in April 2005, assigning it to coordinate rehabilitation efforts for a four-year period in Aceh province and Nias.
The BRR has recently changed its tendering processes to improve efficiency, amid growing donor concern over uncontested contracts, with several international donors expressing concern over the special dispensation that permits direct appointment of housing contracts, rather than tendering.
Ada Apa Di Balik Bencana
Sunday, April 16th, 2006Pdt. F. L. Bidaya, M. Div.
Ketua Sinode Gereja Banua Keriso Protestan Nias (BKPN) di Nias Selatan
Firman Tuhan berkata: “Sebab Tuhanlah tempat perlindunganmu, Yang Mahatinggi telah kaubuat tempat perteduhanmu, malapetaka tidak akan menimpa kamu, dan tulah tidak akan mendekat kepada kemahmu; sebab malaikat-malaikat-Nya akan diperintahkan-Nya kepadamu untuk menjaga engkau di segala jalanmu.†(Mazmur 91:9-11) (more…)
Kristus Telah Bangkit. Ya, Dia Telah Bangkit
Friday, April 14th, 2006Michael Sabbath
Setiap pesta gerejawi mengundang kita berefleksi tentang arti iman kita. Pesta Paskah membaharui keberanian kita dan menolong kita untuk menghadapi tantangan-tantangan kehidupan, baik kehidupan pribadi maupun kehidupan bersama, demikian juga kesulitan-kesulitan yang kita temui di berbagai negara di mana diosis kita berkarya: Yordan, Palestina, Israel dan Siprus. (more…)
Nias Sebaiknya Bergabung dengan Pemekaran Propinsi Tapanuli
Thursday, April 13th, 2006Medan (SIB)
Anggota DPRD Sumut Aliozisokhi Fau SPd mengatakan, Pemekaran propinsi Tapanuli harus segera direalisasikan karena sudah menjadi kebutuhan yang sangat mendesak sekali. Karena untuk mengurus Tapanuli itu harus orang-orang Tapanuli juga yang bisa mengolah tanah tandus seperti di Samosir menjadi subur. “Hanya orang Tapanuli yang bisa secara serius mengolah pembangunan Tapanuli,†kata Fau menjawab wartawan di Medan Minggu (9/4). (more…)
SKB 2 Menteri Tidak Dikenal dalam Perundang-undangan Kita Tidak Bisa Mengikat Publik
Wednesday, April 12th, 2006Medan (SIB)
Anggota DPR RI DR Yasona Laoly SH MSc mengatakan, ia mendapat SMS bahwa di Gereja Villa Bekasi Indah II Tambun Bekasi, Jakarta, Guru jemaat dipaksa menandatangani pernyataan agar tidak melaksanakan kebaktian oleh RT dan pengurus tempat ibadah lain. Menurut saya ini sudah berlebihan karena memang SKB 2 Menteri (Menag dan Mendagri) No I/2006 tentang pendirian rumah ibadah sangat diskriminatif, namun sudah diberlakukan. (more…)
