KEDUTAAN BESAR REPUBLIK INDONESIA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla, Canberra, A.C.T. 2600
AUSTRALIA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
PRESS
RELEASE
No. 93/PR/XII/2004
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS
SETS UP A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP
FOR NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF
President of the Republic
of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has
referred as a national disaster the earthquake and tsunami
tidal wave which took place yesterday morning in the
provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) and North
Sumatra. In light of the said national disaster, President
Yudhoyono has announced a nation-wide mourning period
for 3 days, and asked Indonesian nationals to hoist
a half-mast flag and to provide material and moral supports
to the victims of the natural disaster in the two provinces.
The Government of the
Republic of Indonesia takes this opportunity to sincerely
express its appreciation and gratitude to all friendly
countries and various international organizations/entities
which have indicated their readiness and commitments
to extend humanitarian aids in the wake of the natural
disaster.
In this respect, the Department of
Foreign Affairs has set up a special working group -
called as "Pokja Deplu bagi Penanganan Bencana
Alam" -to coordinate international relief assistance
and aids forwarded to the disaster areas in the two
provinces.
In its operation, the special working
group will serve as a unit which coordinates its activities
with the National Coordinating Agency for Natural Disaster
and Refugees Relief (Bakornas PBP) which, as stipulated
by the Presidential Decree no. 3/2001, has been appointed
as the main coordinating agency at the national level.
The Director General for Information,
Public Diplomacy, and International Treaties and the
Director General for Protocol and Consular Affairs have
been appointed as chairmen of the special working group,
while the Head of Legal Bureau at the Department of
Foreign Affairs serves as the secretary.
Among the functions to be carried out
by the special working group are to coordinate international
aids with the Bakornas PBP; provide information to local
and foreign media regarding activities by the Department
of Foreign Affairs in facilitating disaster relief operation;
help in facilitating consular matters; coordinate with
relevant government agencies/departments; coordinate
with provincial governments of NAD and North Sumatra;
as well as coordinate with foreign embassies and missions
in Indonesia.
For further inquiries and relevant
information please contact the Secretary of the special
working group: Head of Legal Bureau, Department of Foreign
Affairs, 7th Fl., Jl. Taman Pejambon no. 6, Phone. 021-
3846633, Fax. 021-3858044.
Other important contacts are as follows:
| - |
Directorate of Diplomatic Facilities,
Jl. Taman Pejambon no. 6, Consular Building,
Phone. 021-3456365, Fax. 021-3862754 |
| - |
Chief of Staff, 08159810320, Fax.
021-3858047 |
| - |
Director of Information and Media,
08159672037, 021-3857316 |
| - |
Director of Public Diplomacy, 08158104831,
Fax. 021-3858035 |
Jakarta, 27
December 2004
