2007/08/08 11:45 Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, "Building Back Aceh Better through Reconstruction and Reintegration"

daviding — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:33:49 +0000

2007/08/08 11:45 Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, "Building Back Aceh Better through Reconstruction and Reintegration: A Joint Peacekeeping Effort", ISSS Tokyo 2007

This digest was created in real-time during the meeting, based on the speaker's presentation(s) and comments from the audience. The content should not be viewed as an official transcript of the meeting, but only as an interpretation by a single individual. Lapses, grammatical errors, and typing mistakes may not have been corrected. Questions about content should be directed to the originator. The digest has been made available for purposes of scholarship, posted on the ISSS web site by David Ing.

Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Director, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Executing Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR), Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Speaking about the reconstruction process in the largest natural disaster over the last 200 years: tsunami

History of conflict in Aceh
Reconstruction and reintegration, now at an early stage, but progress is encouraging

First, will speak to reconstruction, then about reintegration in coexisting, finally have the two integrated together

Aceh at northwestern part of Indonesia

Coastal area 800 km
Area in conflict for 30 years
One of the poorest regions in Asia
Corruption worst than others in Indonesia
Western coast area, 3 km beyond coastline were destroyed by tsunami

Damage from tsunami:

120,000 houses, will be rebuilt by next year
2500 teachers: how to replace this, takes years, requires a fast program to upgrade, but since it's a poor area, no one wants to go there

December 26, 2004, then help came from around the world: military forces from 35 countries

No diseases, no starvation
Cleaning only took one month, cleaning of debris

BRR was established as a single agency by the government, unprecedented, usually it would be a ministry or some agencies

3 functions:
- Restore livelihoods
- Facilitate all players (e.g. 500 NGOs)
- Coordinate and implement government projects

BRR coordinates more then 12.500 projects, and implements 5000 projects

Scale of work $8.5 billion USD pledge, commitment of $6.1 billion already, compared to 30% average
Start from zero, hire up to 600 people within a month, then liquidate
New laws and regulation, when all housing documents, certificates washed away
Supporting local government, to continue reconstruction
Help of international community, but 500 NGOs each with own mandates, e.g. one to build houses, another for water sanitation

Trust of international community high

Needed $1.3 billion USD to build back better

Finish by 2009

Progress

Initiatives:

Fast track approval
Integrated team: tax exemptions, visa/work permits
BRR trust fund mechanisms
Gender policy: to open and develop a society, women as spearhead for development, land titles in two names in husband and wife

Village policy: each person wants ownership of their future

Accountability and integrity:

BRR integrity pact
Anti-corruption unit (SAK)
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)

Lessons:

Single agency with full authority, e.g. where to get things done
Agency with an authority to coordinate donor programs, and means to implement
State regulations to grant authority, e.g. tendering process too slow
Agency as flexible and responsive
Parallel processes, e.g. building road with house, if wait for road, it will be 6 months
Minimize bureaucracy, delegating authority
Minimize flag waving
Identify and promote breakthrough initiatives as standard
Developing local capacity

30 years of conflict:

Centralism and economic exploitation
Local aspiration of independence
Military operations
Local corruption
Not ideology or religion, may be easier than other communities

Prior efforts for peace

2000: humanitarian pause
2001 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement
All failed
Helsinki MoU

Resolved the root issue: the political end state of Aceh

Trust-based relationship
Commitment from the leader

Helsinki MoU

Followed by implementation of law
Granted of amnesty
Establishment of Aceh Monitoring Mission to resolve disputes
Decommissioning of armies, demobilization of troops

Moral: if you want to do something, do it fast

Humanitarians only last 6 months, then they want to make profits

Law on Governing Aceh has 4 foundations

Democratically elected government

Have to support capacity

Separate agency BRA, Aceh Reintegration Agency

Only 2 years after MoU has been signed, still have uncertainties

International Society for the Systems Sciences - 2007/08/08 11:45 Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, "Building Back Aceh Better through Reconstruction and Reintegration" - Comments

2007/08/08 11:45 Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, "Building Back Aceh Better through Reconstruction and Reintegration"