Could you give us some background on the development of Indonesia’s disaster legislation?
PMI started advocating about the importance of IDRL in various capacities in 2003. At that time, disaster management issues were considered low-ranking priorities by the government and there was no follow-up until December 2004, when the Indian Ocean tsunami killed almost 170,000 people in our country.
Soon after the tsunami, PMI, together with a coalition of Indonesian humanitarian NGOs, initiated discussions with the government on the need for a new law. PMI was involved in many revision processes, discussions and consultations.
In 2007, the Indonesian Parliament adopted the long-anticipated legislation: Law No. 24, 2007. The new law established a National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) charged with coordinating efforts to reduce disaster risks and providing leadership in emergency situations.
Following the new law, several implementing regulations have been developed. Among them is Government Regulation No. 8, 2008, on the establishment of local disaster management bodies, and Government Regulation No. 23, 2008, on the participation of International Agencies and Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations in Disaster Management, clearly relating to IDRL.
How has PMI been involved since the adoption of the new law?
PMI has led several workshops, including one held in July 2009 which addressed how to ensure the best implementation of Government Regulation No. 23, 2008, on the participation of International Agencies and Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations in Disaster Management.
Seventy participants from all ministries and governmental departments involved in disasters gathered for that occasion and gave their highest commitment to resolving problems in the regulation of international assistance. They agreed to develop practical guidelines related to specific subjects in order to strengthen the regulation. For instance, the Health Department is going to issue specific guidelines on donations of drugs and medical equipment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will develop its own guidelines for the registration of foreign NGOs.
Subsequent discussions were organized by BNPB with the participation of PMI in November and December 2009 so as to follow up on the July workshop. It was decided to develop a manual on international disaster response in Indonesia. This manual will provide detailed guidance on the facilitation of international assistance, including entry points, types of assistance, clearance procedures for personnel, goods and equipment, relief distribution, protection and security, as well as monitoring and evaluation.
What are the next steps for PMI?
PMI has learned a lot about legislative advocacy since 2003. We were able to play the role of accelerator and facilitator of negotiations around the DM legislation and have stayed involved in ensuring its consistent application. We have become a reference point for IDRL issues and are now frequently invited to act as facilitator in related discussions.
After so much work in this area, PMI recently established its own legal bureau in order to be able to strengthen our support to the government in developing its regulatory approach.
We are grateful that Indonesia has come such a long way and successfully adopted the law and numerous supporting regulations. We are also looking forward to discussions on how to implement the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster and Emergency Response in the near future, since it recently entered into force.
PMI has also been invited to present its advocacy experience at the Asia Pacific Conference on Government Partnership this coming August. For us, it is important to always share our experience with other countries and learn from them as well. This will open the door for more awareness and possible cooperation in the region.