The Indonesian government has told aid workers helping tsunami victims in its worst-hit region, Aceh, not to venture beyond two large cities on Sumatra island because of what it says are militant threats. But separatist rebels have said they will never attack aid workers, and the aid workers themselves have shown little worry.
Indonesia opened up a new airport on an island north of the devastated city of Banda Aceh. It's meant to relieve pressure on the provincial capital's tiny airport, where a US helicopter crashed the day before.
Indonesia's military chief says the army wants to limit international humanitarian aid to certain areas of Aceh province, amid concerns over rebel activity.
Chief of Indonesian Armed Forces Gen. Endriaratono Sutarto said, "We do not want these foreign aid workers to go to unsafe areas because we are detecting that rebels may try to disturb this humanitarian mission. I do not want any of their team members to be killed by the rebels. Therefore we limit their humanitarian work to around Banda Aceh and Meulaboh."
The general says his soldiers will not take the offensive against rebels but will protect aid workers.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program in Banda Aceh says it's business as usual.
Spokeswoman of World Food Program Bettina Luescher said, “As far as we can tell our aid workers, our people, are moving freely, without restrictions. We are bringing food now also into the northeastern part of Aceh, where people have been waiting for the food. So our work goes on and we're working closely together with the Indonesian military and the government to make sure that the people here get the food."
Across the region, tens of thousands of people are homeless and threatened by the disease.
Health officials have warned that the death toll from the tsunami disaster could double if aid does not reach the neediest fast enough.
(CCTV.com January 12, 2005)
