Speech of Japanese Ambassador for the signing ceremony for support of Humanitarian Assistance in Aceh

H.E. Syafii Maarif, Chairman of Muhammadiyah,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very pleased to be here today to announce this humanitarian assistance to Aceh in cooperation with Muhammadiyah Youth Humanitarian Assistance Committee NAD. The Japanese government hopes that the conflict in Aceh will be resolved peacefully under the territorial integrity of Indonesia and we have supported the Indonesian government’s efforts for peaceful settlement: in December 2003, the Japanese government hosted the Tokyo Preparatory Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh, and in May 2003, we hosted the Tokyo Conference again in order to maintain the peace process in Aceh. Unfortunately peace in Aceh has not been achieved yet. However, the Japanese government is ready to provide assistance for the future reconstruction of Aceh once peace is achieved. Although overall reconstruction assistance is not possible under the current circumstances, the Japanese government has considered feasibility of assistance under the current status of Aceh, and has decided to extend its assistance to Muhammadiyah Youth Humanitarian Assistance Committee NAD in the form of ambulances, medicine, medical equipment and so forth, which is equivalent to US$ 325,249, for their humanitarian programs.

Due to the protracted conflict in Aceh, the number of medical facilities and doctors in remote areas in Aceh are insufficient. Moreover, due to the current security situation, villagers have difficulties in going to major cities in order to receive sufficient health services. Under such circumstances, Muhammadiyah Youth Humanitarian Assistance Committee NAD has been making efforts to lend a hand to those who have limited access to health services by dispatching ambulances with doctors and nurses to villages. Japan will assist Muhammadiyah to implement this mobile medical service. I hope this assistance will improve the welfare of people in Aceh and also will strengthen the relationship between Japan and Indonesia.

With regard to cooperation with Muhammadiyah Youth, Japan has already provided assistance to the rehabilitation of their schools. Japan is also cooperating with Muhammadiyah in the area of voter education for the coming general election. I am pleased to further deepen our cooperative relationship with Muhammadiyah through this project, and I hope our relationship will be further strengthened in the future.

3 March 2004

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