topic Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia? in Community Spirit

Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

punch*drunk — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 23:51:40 GMT

Apparently we've withdrawn our ambassador, should we also withdraw aid?

My husband says we should redirect the money to try and curb our growing ice epidemic in Australia...good point I suppose.

I dont think the execution of prisoners is a reason to withdraw aid, but I think there needs to be a good long look at where the aid is going to due to the high levels of corruption in the country. Is the aid actually reaching those that need it? If so, then we probably shouldnt withdraw it. But if its just lining the pockets of corrupt politicians, then we probably should.

I'm guessing there will at least be a hefty reduction in aid in the next budget anyway.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

bluecat*dancing — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:03:45 GMT

Even though most of me says "yes" part of me says "no". I have too many conflicting emotions at the moment to make a clear and impartial choice.

The Indonesian government does need to be held to account, though, and not just for its barbaric death penalty It is corrupt and has been for decades. I bet that the Ambassador will return to Indonesia with a month or so and all will be as it was before.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

azureline** — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:06:12 GMT

I think that there will be far reaching consequences of this barbaric act and with holding aid might jeopardise exports. I doubt that it will happen.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

lal-au0 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:08:56 GMT

how much of the aid gets swallowed up by corruption?

50%? 90%?

i think it's pointless to throw money at corrupt bureaucrats.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

punch*drunk — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:09:20 GMT

@azureline** wrote:
I think that there will be far reaching consequences of this barbaric act and with holding aid might jeopardise exports. I doubt that it will happen.

That is a concern for me. If we substantially withdraw aid we could get into a **bleep** for tat war of taking things away from each other and we would probably end up the bigger losers.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

debra9275 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:09:55 GMT

I think yes, or we should at least halve it.. to make a statement. We don't even know what they use the funding for.. it certainly isn't used to help the poor. Our Govt says it is to ensure that JI don't take over schools.

we all know that some of the past Indonesian presidents became very wealthy men

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

punch*drunk — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:10:41 GMT

@lal-au0 wrote:
how much of the aid gets swallowed up by corruption?

50%? 90%?

i think it's pointless to throw money at corrupt bureaucrats.

Is there any way to know? Does the money go to the Indonesian government or does it go to aid agencies?

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

punch*drunk — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:12:06 GMT

Maybe we need to spend some of it on an in depth inquiry as to where the money actually ends up. Not just in Indonesia, but in other countries too.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

lal-au0 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:19:10 GMT

maybe send our people to help people there directly.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

j*oono — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:28:23 GMT

That's what I was wondering about Lal. Why not fund organisations like Red Cross, Medicines sans Frontiers, World Vision, all those organisations and if the country needing aid wouldn't let them move in and distribute the aid then too bad, they don't get it. That is probably not as simple as it sounds.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

punch*drunk — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:31:01 GMT

I imagine if they withdraw aid given directly to the government they would do something like that. Cant really see them pulling the pin altogether.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

cherry*135 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:49:48 GMT

If money is withdrawn or cut from Foreign Aid budget the amount wouldn't be directed to another dept. Foreign Affairs Dept doesn't give donations to charities...how would they choose some over the others? The ones that didn't get any funding wouldn't be happy.

One of the main use of the Aid to Indonesia is used to help educate females so they can have a better future.. A good thing.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

cherry*135 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:53:59 GMT

They do give to NGO's

Australian Govt Aid assistance:
Direct to developing country governments.
Through international organisations such as the World Bank or World Health Organisation.
Through Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) like World Vision.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

*mrgrizz* — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:00:37 GMT

i don't care that they shoot two drug smugglers.

the aid should be withdrawn anyway. look at the money they spend on their military. and they need aid?

do we give china aid?

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

cherry*135 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:09:05 GMT

The current Govt has already made big cuts to the foreign aid budget. They now intend to focus more on the Indo-pacific region - our near neighbours. Julie Bishop has said there will be no more cuts in the next Budget..

Has the PM or Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated they might cut/reduce aid to Indonesia?

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

ladydeburg — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:27:48 GMT

We should withdraw aid immediatley. Why are we giving aid to a member of the G20 anyway. They they are corrupt and they brutalise their own people and lets not forget West Papua, East Timor, the Bali bombers, some who have walked free.

The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85 per cent of global gross domestic product and over 75 per cent of global trade.

The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

***super_nova*** — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:32:05 GMT

The aid goes mainly to schools and keep children from schools run by radicals.

The thing is that Indonesia does not need us, but we need them. There was 249.9 million people there in 2013.

They do not give damn about us, the executions were carried out because Joko Widodo would lose face if he did not.

Most of Indonesians supported the death penalty, did not care or did not know about the Bali 9, or the others that were executed. I do not think there was a wide coverage of this saga in Indonesia. Just as there is not a wide coverage about such matters here, or many other countries. Who has heard of Chika Honda?

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

cherry*135 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:39:46 GMT

@ladydeburg wrote:
We should withdraw aid immediatley. Why are we giving aid to a member of the G20 anyway. They they are corrupt and they brutalise their own people and lets not forget West Papua, East Timor, the Bali bombers, some who have walked free.

The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85 per cent of global gross domestic product and over 75 per cent of global trade.
The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

Why not do some reading from reliable sources? Instead of making knee-jerk, uninformed comments.

We focus on strengthening institutions and infrastructure to ensure Indonesia provides an environment receptive to trade and investment, while also developing its human capital, particularly women and girls.

Indonesia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours and faces increasingly complex development challenges. Like other developing countries, Indonesia has had recent success achieving economic growth but is still afflicted by poverty.

More than 105 million Indonesians live on less than US$2 per day. Indonesia remains vulnerable to shocks, like a natural disaster or an economic downturn, that could have devastating effects.

An Indonesian woman is 30 times more likely to die in childbirth than an Australian woman and one in three children under the age of five suffer from stunting, caused by malnutrition.

About 120 million Indonesians do not have access to safe drinking water while about 110 million do not have adequate sanitation.

Support the current Govt, support their policies.

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

icyfroth — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 02:05:32 GMT

What sort of aid do you mean?

Humanitarian Aid in case of Natural Catastrophe? No.

Aid for developing their infrastructure? Probably could review that.

Aid for helping their military programs? Yes we should cut that back.

What will they do in retaliation though?

Re: Should we withdraw aid from Indonesia?

debra9275 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 02:16:57 GMT

Am I would hope that the funding is going where it's meant to be going. I wonder if w'ere paying Indonesia for an asylum seeker deal as well?

I haven't been to Indonesia for very many years but it sounds like nothing has improved for the poor at all since i was there

More than 105 million Indonesians live on less than US$2 per day. Indonesia remains vulnerable to shocks, like a natural disaster or an economic downturn, that could have devastating effects.

An Indonesian woman is 30 times more likely to die in childbirth than an Australian woman and one in three children under the age of five suffer from stunting, caused by malnutrition.

About 120 million Indonesians do not have access to safe drinking water while about 110 million do not have adequate sanitation