Japan Thanks Indonesia for Support

18 March, 2011 | Source: Jakarta Globe

A Japanese official has extended his country’s appreciation of the support offered by Indonesia in their time of need.

“I have been told that Indonesia has given help in so many ways,” said Makiko Kikuta, a parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs, in a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa on Wednesday night.

“So on behalf of Japan, I would like to say thank you very much. All this will help boost Japanese spirits to keep on struggling and stay strong.”

Marty said Indonesia was giving $2 million in aid to Japan and sending a group of experts to help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

“We’re going to fly [the first batch of] 11 among 60 experts to Japan tomorrow,” he said. The team consists of search and rescue experts, medical personnel and soldiers.

Marty noted that Japan had always been ready to help Indonesia during its time of need.

“Whenever Indonesia is faced with disaster, Japan, with their open hand, has given us much aid, such as funds to help rebuild infrastructure,” he said. “This is the right time for us to repay them.”

On Monday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conveyed his deepest condolences to the people and the government of Japan, adding that Indonesia would mobilize all necessary resources to assist Japan in its time of need.

Aside from official support, Indonesians, in their private capacity, have provided support in various forms.

Kyodo news agency reported that Elaine Low, 24, daughter of Low Tuck Kwong, owner of Bayan Resources and patriarch of Indonesia’s third richest family, gave the Japanese Ambassador in Singapore Yoichi Suzuki a check for S$1 million ($779,000).

Ismail Said, the president of the Indonesian Dompet Dhuafa Humanitarian Organization, has said that a team from organization’s branch in Japan was dispatched to Sendai, one of the worst hit areas, shortly after the disaster hit.
 

 

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