HI
Vince,
We have arrived in Jakarta and will meet with the House Speaker this morning before
going to Aceh. We met with a senior presidential advisor last night for several
hours after our long flight. Had to hold for 20 minutes at the airport to let
the Japanese Prime Minister get off the ground. Walked to the office at the airport
and saw hundreds of UN tents carefully stacked out of the rain in a hangar. Lot
of good they were doing.
I found the airstrips we want to use are of suitable size for us and few others.
About 20 small planes at jakarta airport. Why not being used? Broken or no money
to operate them. Tired of the BS preventing aid from getting where it should.
We have authority from highest levels to keep it moving. Will probably want medical
perrsonnel once we get a base established.
Have been told medicine is in short supply. Try to get Ayuda to get started to
get the drugs they can to Medan, Sumatra. Maybe a C-130 from the Airforce? Will
verify if this is the case tonite or tomorrow.
Was told by an Australian reporter that Meulaboh should be operational airfield
in 2 days. Also a need on the offshore islands. Saw in the newspapaer the Abraham
Lincoln is running about 30.000 lbs a day. We can do 8,000 to 10,000. Not bad
in comparison!
Please get funding for me. I cannot carry on long if it is mostly coming from
me. Do whatever you need to tie up with Ayuda or others formally so people can
get their tax exemptions. Should NOT be governors office as the Indonesian thinks
this will tie the aid up indefinitey within the bureacracy here. NGO to NGO
is the right way to go.
Will try to stay in touch. Bought cell phones for the crew
I think any smiles will end today along with an increase in fatigue.
Thanks