Jakarta’s President Faces Outrage Over Sulawesi Disaster
Death toll climbs to 1,407
After the Thursday‑night 7.5‑meter quake and the tsunami that tore across the west of Sulawesi, officials have announced at least 1,407 deaths. The real numbers could be higher as rescue teams dig deeper and more people are still missing.
President Widodo’s Tour of Palu
Widodo, the avuncular former furniture guy who became Indonesia’s first outsider president, flew into Palu almost two days after the quake.
- He was already on a second trip this week, shouting that the rescue effort needs to be as top‑notch and fast as possible.
- “Any slip‑up will not go down well,” he warned, saying the next few days “are critical.”
Government Criticized For Tsunami Warning System Failure
The tsunami warning system that helped save hundreds of thousands in 2004 has been off since 2012. Widodo says it needs a fix and proper maintenance.
Lo — T‑Shirt — Panic With Looting and Shortage of Supplies
Survivors are scrambling for food, fuel and gear. The interior ministry allowed people to grab stuff from local shops and promised later compensation.
- “If we do this, people might think we’re giving a green light to lawlessness,” says opposition politician Fadli Zon.
- “We need solid leadership and law‑and‑order, but the government looks weak right now.”
Election on the Horizon
Widodo is gearing up for the next run on April 17, eyeing a third term.
- His main rival is Prabowo Subianto, the Gerindra party leader who last beat him in 2014.
- “If Widodo can pull off a rock‑solid emergency relief, Prabowo won’t have a target,” says analyst Achmad Sukarsono.
- “We haven’t seen that yet, so it’s fair game for a challenger to attack.”
Foreign Aid: A Sticky Situation
Indonesia prides itself on independence, but the president now has to walk a tightrope. Too eager for outside help could anger nationalists; too hesitant could delay life‑saving aid.
- The earlier 2023 earthquakes on Lombok were handled without external help.
- Just this week, the government said it would accept foreign aid for Sulawesi.
With the government under scrutiny, the political drama is heating up just as the crisis rooms are busy replacing the hardest parts of the disaster relief.
Indonesia’s Quake Struggle: President Widodo Meets Mos and Christians
On a chilly October morning in 2018, President Joko Widodo had a face-to-face chat with Wiranto, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs. They were slipping through the rubble‑filled streets of Petobo district in Palu, Central Sulawesi— the same spot that had trembled during the massive quake that shook the island.
When the Whole Country Says “We Need Help”
- Suddenly the voices across the nation are in sync: “We need outside help.” Even those who normally roll their eyes are nodding in agreement.
- But one sharp‑tongued member of Gerindra, Sodik Mudjahid, tossed a cautionary note into the mix.
“Don’t bite the bullet and sign anything that could scar our sovereignty,” Mudjahid warned to Reuters.
The Bitter Past
In Sulawesi, the story isn’t just about cracks in the earth. In the early 2000s, a bitter feud between the area’s many Muslims and growing Christian community blew up into 2,000 lost lives over three years. Then a peace accord in 2001 tried to put a lid on it— only to be rattled again in 2005 when bombs went off in Palu. Some say it’s a desperate attempt to stir up old tensions.
The Danger of Quiet Frustration
- When people feel they’re being left out of aid, that resentment can become a powder keg.
- “You’re surrounded by a super‑polarised crowd,” Loveard noted, hinting that anger can be weaponised.
So, while the government hurries to rebuild, it must also keep the community’s heartbeats in check.
