Inter-religious solidarity for quake and tsunami victims
Jakarta (AsiaNews) Indonesia is mobilising to help the victims of yesterday's earthquake and tsunami. According to the authorities, 4,491 people have been killed and another 378 are still missing. The figures do not, however, include the number of dead and missing in West Sumatra because communications with the area have broken down.
The government has set up rescue centres in various locations after establishing a National Rescue Centre in Medan, capital of the province of North Sumatra.
In addition to the governmentPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has called for national mourning, is visiting the stricken provincesordinary citizens and groups from different social and religious background are mobilising to help the predominantly Muslim populations of Aceh and North Sumatra provinces.
The Catholic and Protestant Committees organising the national Christmas celebration cancelled today's activities and devolved the festivities' funds to disaster victims.
"It would be impossible for Christians to sing and otherwise celebrate Christmas whilst our compatriots are dying," said Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia's Trade Minister, a practicing Catholic and Christian representative on the committee for the national Christmas celebration which, she said, has already spent 300 million rupiahs ( 24,000 or US$ 33,000) on the rescue operation, but "still has a billion rupiahs to donate to the tsunami victims". The committee has also organised a special task force to be sent to Aceh and North Sumatra to help and assist the victims.
For their part, Mudji Sutrisno, director of the (Jesuit) Driyarkara Institute of Philosophy in Jakarta and Nathan Setiabudi, chairman of the (Protestant) Indonesian Synod of Churches, have launched an appeal to the entire nation, saying that "the moment is now" to show solidarity to the mostly Muslim victims.
Indonesian companies are offering financial assistance to the victims whilst newspapers and television stations are raising funds.
Media Group, which includes a private television station and the daily Media Indonesia, has so far raised seven billion rupiahs (more than ( 561,000 or US$ 757,000).
Indonesia's navy has been ordered to stand by in Tanjung Priok Naval Base to ferry rescue supplies the day after tomorrow to Aceh.
In the meantime, provincial authorities in Aceh are preparing a 1.2 hectare (three acres) field to bury the dead starting this afternoon.
Calls for canvass sheets have been made in Jakarta so that the dead can be buried according to Muslim custom.
Flights for pilgrims to Makkah from Jakarta have been cancelled.
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