Asian Transformations in Action - Api-fellowships.org

PERSISTENT PROBLEMS, PROMISING SOLUTIONS AND BENEFICENCE51natural disasters by introducing adequate disastercountermeasures, including disaster policies, disasterresponses and disaster preparedness. That similar radicallearning has taken place in Indonesia in the aftermath ofmassive disasters—such as the earthquake and tsunamiin December 2004—is still open to question.In the absence of an integrative package of disasterpolicies and disaster victim services, the Indonesianpeople are really in danger. The government doesrespond to disasters by providing relief and enactingpolicies. However, those measures seem to be a formof “bureaucrative survival” and not a real product ofradical and systematic learning. The coping capacity ofthe people remains low.What should the Indonesian disaster management policybe? Indonesia, surely has its own unique geographical andsociopolitical characteristics that make it different fromthe other two countries. However, disaster managementelsewhere, either as a theory or practice, has its ownstandard and similarities. Therefore, it is not too lateto learn from other countries’ experiences and followinternational standards without ignoring local valuesand capacities. A more integrative, comprehensive andcommunity-based disaster management is among thethings that should be achieved in Indonesian disastermanagement.Furthermore, the next thing to do is to shift the mindsetand paradigm in dealing with disaster management. PujiPujiono (2007) mentioned that at least four componentsof the paradigm shift should be incorporated, namely:“From emergency response to disaster risk reduction; fromcentralistic to local autonomy, from relief to basic rights,andfrom government centric to participatory.”NOTES1Interview with Puji Pujiono, Kobe, 22 November 2006.2Interview with Koji Suzuki at ADRC, Kobe, 22 August2006.3Interview with Prof. Tomohide Atsumi at Osaka University,9 November 2006.4 Interview with Prof. Toshio Sugiman at Kyoto University,22 October 2006.5 Data from interviews and observations at the JapaneseRed Cross in Kobe (Hyogo Chapter) on 22 September2006 and Japanese Red Cross Headquarters in Tokyo, 8October 2006.6 Data from an interview with Prof. Toshio Sugiman ofKyoto University and Prof. Tomohide Atsumi of OsakaUniversity and a site visit to the Shanti VolunteerAssociation in Tokyo and temporary shelter for Niigatavictims in Ojiya City, Niigata. Significant informationwas also provided by Kiyoko Itagaki and Ozaki-san,a nurse and victim assistant from Gunma prefecture,respectively, and by some students at Niigata University,Niigata City.7 Based on participatory observations carried out in KyotoShimin Bousai Senta, 3 September 2006, and the TokyoFirefighter Museum in Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, 7-8September 2006.8Data provided by the Thai Red Cross in Bangkok on 17January 2007.9Data given by the Thai Action Committee for Democracyin Burma, a human rights NGO working for democracyin Burma in January 2007. In the aftermath of the2004 tsunami, they took part in identifying the victims,particularly undocumented Burmese migrant workerswho worked along the seaside in Ranong, Phang Nga,Phuket and Krabi provinces.10 Data provided by the CODI (Community OrganizationsDevelopment Institution), a semi-autonomous Thaigovernment agency; data also obtained by a site visit toBan Nai Rai village, Ban Nam Ken village and Phuketbeach.11 The problem of land ownership in the aftermath of the2004 tsunami could be observed in Ban Nai Rai village inPhang Nga province. Investors found this place suitablefor building a beach resort.12 Based on interviews and observations in Ban Nai RaiVillage, 23-24 January 2008.13 The tsunami early warning towers were installed along thesouthwestern coast of Thailand, particularly in PhangNga and Phuket, based on direct observation done bythe researcher and information provided by an officerat the Phuket Department of Disaster Prevention andMitigation in Phuket, 24 January 2007.14 Data provided by a high-ranking officer of the ThailandDepartment of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation inBangkok, January 2007.Asian Transformations in ActionThe Work of the 2006/2007 API Fellows