Electricity and kerosene are lacking. The largest buildings in the city have all collapsed. The roads are flooded or destroyed, bridges collapsed. Trucks to dig among the ruins are needed, where thousands of victims are believed buried. The airport is reopened and two Hercules planes arrive with rice, medicines and basic necessities.
Pariaman, a district near Padang home and to 80,000 people, is destroyed. Caritas mobilises and sends in volunteer teams to bring medicine, water, blankets and cooking equipment.
The severe toll is confirmed by the national emergency centre and the governor of West Sumatra. Many feared the onslaught of a tsunami, but the alarm has been recalled. Communications with the area are interrupted. Electricity pylons and generators destroyed.
Tens of thousands of people do not want to see Susilo, a terrorist killed in a police raid, buried in their city. Moderate Muslim leaders back the population and condemn the political use of Islam.
Top officials in Indonesia’s Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) are investigated for bribery and favouring some business people. Yudhoyono is prepared to replace them with new officials, but criticism rises from within the Commission.
Most people in Aceh are against the law, and so is the national government. Usually adulterers are paraded in public to be shamed or reprimanded in private. For Commission on Violence against Women, the law violates the constitution. However, Islamic scholars argue the law is rooted in centuries-old practices that go back to prophet Muhammad. For Aceh’s rulers, Sharia is counterproductive.
Overnight a special security unit attacked a hideout used by Islamic extremists. Two terrorists involved in the attack hotels in Jakarta killed, weapons and bombs seized. The police will not confirm or deny the death of the Malaysian terrorist top of the list of wanted persons.
This is confirmed by the head of the Indonesian police. Noordin Mohammad Top, the most wanted terrorist, was killed last night in a raid by security forces in Central Java. He was the mind of several attacks in the country.
The local church has started collecting food, gifts and basic necessities for those affected by the earthquake. The death toll is 70 dead and about 700 injured, at least 5400 displaced. The solidarity drive fostered by e-mail and on the social network Facebook.
During the Muslim holy month thousands of beggars fill the streets of the capital. Islamic scholars claim they are not real poor, but individuals used by organised crime to rake up money from alms giving. The measure divides public opinion.
The toll stands at 57 dead, but there are still dozens of missing people. President Susilo, visiting Cianjur, had to walk two kilometers to reach the stricken city, because of damage to roads. The Catholic Church is launching a subscription. Parishes in the areas affected by the quake, the meeting place of volunteers and rescue teams become aid hubs.
A quake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale brings down buildings in the capital and the island of Java, mosques included. A small tsunami is recorded off the coast at Pelabuhan Ratu. Tens of people have died so far. The quake’s epicentre is Tasikmalaya (West Java province), some 300 kilometres south-east of Jakarta. Caritas Indonesia is already at work helping victims.
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