President Yudhoyono expresses sympathy to Australian PM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd expressing deep sympathy and shared grief over Australia`s worst bush fires in many years that have claimed at least 170 lives, Antara newswire reported.

Speaking to the press at the presidential office here on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said President Yudhoyono in his letter to Rudd offered his deepest sympathy on the tragedy.

"In the spirit of the Australia-Indonesia partnership, Australia`s success is also Indonesia`s success, and its misery is also Indonesia`s misery," Djalal quoted Yodhoyono`s letter as saying.

He said President Yudhoyono in his letter also made a commitment to help alleviate the sufferings of the bushfire victims. Indonesia would send a police forensic team to Australia to help identify bush fire victims.

In addition, Indonesia would also contribute US$1 million for the reconstruction of schools destroyed by the fires in Victoria.
"So many schools were destroyed by the fires in Victoria, and the funds are a token of Indonesia`s solidarity with Australia," Djalal said.
Reuters reported on Tuesday, at least 181 people had been confirmed killed in the fires, but officials said the toll would rise.
"There are still a large number of people, in excess of 50, who the coroner believes are already deceased, but are not yet identified," Reuters quoted Victorian Premier John Brumby as telling reporters.
About 25 fires were still burning in Victoria on Tuesday, with a dozen towns placed on alert as strong winds flared.

The fires have increased pressure on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to take firm action on climate change. Scientists blamed global warming for conditions that fueled the disaster.
Djalal said the long-standing Indonesian-Australian partnership to cooperate in disaster management should be maintained.

"When a devastating tsunami and earthquake hit Aceh and Nias, Australia helped Indonesia a lot through military humanitarian operations," he said.
Later, during the reconstruction process in Aceh, Australia also extended financial assistance of A$1 billion to Indonesia, Djalal added. (Jakarta Post, 02/11/2009 )