Quinkana

The $1 billion is in addition to existing Australian aid to Indonesia, taking the total contribution to $1.8 billion.

Dr Yudhoyono yesterday promised he would directly control the distribution of aid funds inside and outside Indonesia in order to curb any "deviation" or corrupt leakage of funds away from humanitarian assistance and reconstruction.

Free fares for volunteers

TheCrone

Yup! And how much have the oil-rich Arab nations contributed to the rehabilitation of their co-religionistd?

Quinkana

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: A biography

Human rights group says Indonesian military incompetent, abusive. Jakata Post, January 06, 2005


Handwringing for Handrubbing:

It could backfire if, for example, foreign donors publicly insisted they had the right to deliver aid to the Free Aceh Movement. Once the Indonesian Military feels it has been sidelined in the humanitarian operation in Aceh -- and that sentiment is currently growing -- it will become a major obstacle to the reconstruction of Aceh. Like it or not, the TNI has the best access to the province.

Also, we should not forget the wise saying, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

Will the world deliver on its promises to Aceh?

ABCDiamond

These figures are from a Malaysian website forum

Aid Pledges by Muslim Governments

Country Amount ($AUS)
1. Qatar $32.2m
2. UAE $25.68m
3. Kuwait $12.9m
4. Saudi Arabia $12.9m
5. Bahrain $2.6m
6. Libya $2.6m
7. Turkey $1.6m
8. Brunei $ 0 m
9. Iran $ 0 m
TOTAL = $90.48m
SOURCE: REUTERS

But Saudi has very recently increased its figure to A$30M

It is difficult to judge on initial pledges, as it may all differ at the end of the day. eg: Kuwait initially pledged US$1 million on Dec 26

Boomerang

Is there a race to see who gives more and who gives less, i thought charity is to give and be accepted.

Actually i wonder how much of these billions ( in overal ) will reach the people of the affected areas,my view about charities is changing i still do my bit to NSPCC every month via DD but nothing seems to be improving generally amongts charities it makes me wonder sometimes where the money goes

Larissa

I think that private (personal) giving should be totally anonymous (the old adage of not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing), but we should call governments and larger organisations accountable, as that is public money.
On a sad note, your monthly donation to the NSPCC will probably be needed even more, since I guess that people will be giving less to other charities in the immediate future, having given more to the tsunami appeal.

ABCDiamond

Unfortunately this report from Reuters will not make you feel any better.

MrsDagboy

FWIW, they said that the aid from the goverment was to help rebuild the infrastructure & was for the government of Indonesia to use for things like roads etc.

The private individuals donations are almost always to charities like Red Cross (which is where we gave our money)/Unicef/Oxfam/Care etc which whilst arent publicly accountable as such, do get audited. Red Cross pledges that no more than 10% of total donations are ever used on administration etc, I believe Oxfams figures are 5-10%.

Agreed, its the people/govts that say they will donate & then dont that are the depressing statistic.

Boomerang

A bit worrying indeed ABC, thanks for the link.

---

Can someone please tell me this contribution, is it for Indonesia only?

Regards,
Pedro

MrsDagboy

Pedro, from what they said, yes, that amount is for Indonesia alone, I believe that the Australian goverment (along with the state governments) has pledged other money for the general aid effort. The aid money for the Indonesian govt is $500m in direct grants for things like roads, hospitals & schools & the other $500m in the form of things like 40 year interest free loans. Also heard that apparently India & Thailand have both refused foreign aid offered by other countries Govts. Not humanitarian aid, but Govt aid.

seang

One man put them all to shame

From SMH

Seven-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has made the biggest donation by an individual so far offering $US10million ($12.87 million).

Quinkana

I say the Australian government aid is to buy influence with the new Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and to use Australian taxpayers money to make the Liberal Party look good.

I'll only be convinced otherwise by a highly detailed and audited set of accounts of actual expenditure in Indonesia reconciled physically with actual construction and aid outcomes.

This could help break the cycle of corruption which has caused conflict im Timor and Aceh and kept the Indonesian people in poverty and the Oligarchs in luxury. I don not hold much hope:

"Revolution is never done,
It is just another form of gun,
To do again what they have done,
To our brothers' youngest son."

Edit: here is why I am pessimistic:

"Mr Howard stressed the ultimate responsibility for how the money was spent lay with Indonesia, and Australia would not dictate the terms of the donation."

So something for President Yudhoyono to dole out to strengthen his influence - so it's all down to his character.

steandleigh

Nice one and God bless him,

good to see the 'real' wealthy doing something decent with their 'public earnt' wonga -

I wonder about the likes of David Beckham though and the other pampered pussycats of the english premiership...no real word from their camp yet..last i heard was something like: ' lets all donate one weeks worth of wages to the cause...pathetic really, considering what they earn.....

bondipom

Should they have to donate publicly?

bondipom

It is a hard call. Australia could be badly hurt with instability in Indonesia. Bali brought that home.