THE INDONESIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY

History ansi Activities 1945-1977

INDONESIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY

Headquarters JAKARTA THE INDONESIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY History and Activities 1945-1977

INDONESIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY

Headquarters JAKARTA THE INDONESIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY

HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES 1945-1977

CONTENTS s

I. INTRODUCTION ...... * 1

II. H I S T O R Y ...... 2

III. 0 R G A N I Z A T I 0 J ...... •...... 12

IV. ACTIVITIES :

' A. FIRST AID ...... 18

^ B. N U R S I N G ...... 19

C. BLOODTRANS FUSION ...... -...... 21

D. DISASTER RELIEF ...... 24

V* DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMM ...... 30

VI. THE ROLE IN INTERNAL CONFLICTS ...... 39

VII. THE JUNIOR RED CROSS ...... 45

VIII. LOGISTICS ...... 46

IX. PUBLIC RELATIONS ...... 47

X. INTERNATIONAL RELATICMS ...... 51

V XI. CONCLUSION ...... 58 THE INDONESIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES 1945-1977

I. INTRODUCTION

The experiences of a Red Cross Society could be useful for other Societies of the same World-family, especially for new Red Cross Societies belonging to new independent States.

The Indonesian Red Cross, belonging to one of the new Societies born after the Second World War, had to face many kinds of problems from the very beginning of its existence up to this moment; therefore we regard a description of its history and activities during about 30 years' of the existence as a duty to inform our public and our Sister so­ cieties about the objectivss., the problems, the merits and the failures as well as thf prospects of the Indonesian Red Cross Society.

II. HISTORY 1 1 . H I S T O R Y -“■■■ ~ 1 On August, 17, 1945, the Indonesian people proclaims i their independence at a brief and simple ceremony in Jakarta; their spokesmen were two most prominent national leaders, SUKARNO and HATTA.

On September, 17, 1945, just one month after the proclamation of independence the Indonesian Red Cross Society was founded after being prepared by an ad hoc *• • r> *; .* rt f i*T r ^ rf 'D r ^ ;• •*<*. / - •• v ' r‘- Committee of 5 appointed by the Minister of Health Dr. Boentaran Martoatmodjo. At that time the two national leaders were already elected as President and Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia. The Vice President, Dr. .. S ■ ■ • n r- -1. '.1 Mohamad Hatta was then elected as the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross Society, where as the Executive Committee consisted of a number of prominent citizens, under the leadership of Dr. Boentaran Martoatmodjo who meanwhile , resigned as Minister of Health .to.dedicate his full attention ,Tto the Indonesian Red Qjrsss. , . 9

The first National Headquarter of INDONCROSS was located at the present Mojopahit Hotel, Jakarta. Immediately the Indonesian Red Cross was confronted with important problems. First of all displaced persons returning from places, where they have worked for the Japanese Army must be given the assistance they needed, food, clothing, lodging, and transport to their place of origin. Emergency Medical teams were mobilized from the hospitals and the medical School in Jakarta to give first aid to victims of many clashes between the Indonesian Security Units and Japanese troops or between Indonesian and Units of the Allied Forces, which had landed to disarm the Japanese troops and to take care of the prisoners of war.

The Allied Forces consisted of the best troops under 9 *-*+- i-v Command, namely Indian crack troops from Birma. j ' ; , M 4 r X The good offices of the Indonesian Red Cross were used to find out all the places of detention of prisoners of war *

and . • • • and civilian Dutch Nationals throughout Java. After this was done, RAPWI (relief action prisoners of war Indonesia' was assisted by the Indonesian Red Cross. Distribution of good, clothing, transportation to the big cities was done by the Indonesian Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Allied Forces. By doing this task the Indonesian Red Cross had given proof of its ability and usefulness to the Allied Forces as well as the I.C.R.C.

The foundation of the National Red Cross was immediately followed by the formation of chapters in all big cities as Surabaya, Semarang, Bandung, Medan, Palembang etc. all of them immediately involved in similar activities as the National Red Cross.

A great deal of the members of the Red Cross were medical doctors as weljt as nurses, medical students and highschool-students.

In the Headquarters of the Indonesian Red Cross in Jakarta, Dr. Boentaran was assisted by Dr. R, Mochtar as Secretary and Mr. Pelenkahu as Treasurer, while two troubleshooters has to be mentioned, namely Mr. Moerdono and Mr. A. Martam, who were responsible for the logistics and the care for warprisoners and civilian detainees. Mrs. Kusrin and Miss Sriati Sastroamidjojo were in charge of the catering-service. Dr. Satrio was responsible for the emergency brigade, consisting of first-aiders using all kinds of vehicles for transportation of wounded and sick; the members of this emergency brigade were mostly medical students and voluntary nurses and since they could speak English there was no trouble to cooperate with the Allied Forces. The brigade occupied one wing of the H.Q. and had a 24 hours duty, which was very much appreciated by the in­ habitants of Jakarta and surroundings. First-aid post in the city and outside the city were established to give immediate help. This pattern was

generally .... generally applied in other big cities as Bandung and Surabaya. These activities were remarkable and drew the attention of the British Red Cross : this was clear when we unexpectedly were honoured by a visit of Lady Mount- batten, wife of the British Commander of the British Forces in Asia, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten. She came with Miss Vickers in the quality of member of the British Red Cross. For the Indonesian Red Cross such an event was very important.

Unfortunately the arrival of the British Forces was followed by Dutch troops which were intended to ensure the comeback of the Dutch government as ruler in Indonesia, ignoring the proclamation of independence. The objective was to conquer the big cities and establish the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (N.I.C.A.). This was the beginning of a new period for the Indonesian people who did not wish to loose the once proclaimed independence and was prepared to defend the sovereignity of Indonesia at any cost. For the Indonesian Red Cross this meant a lot of work, which was manifest in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Suraoaya. The military operations launched by the Dutch troops or combined British-Dutch units force the Indonesian Government to leave Jakarta and to choose a saver center ramely Yogyakarta; the Indonesian Red Cross tried to stay as long as possible in Jakarta, but yas also forced to move to Yogyakarta, leaving a represen­ tative who was in charge of liaison with the Allied Forces; Dr. Bahder Djohan, livinc near the General Hospital of Jakarta was appointed for this purpose. The Dutch started to establish a special division of the Dutch Red Cross for Indonesia, the N.JE.R.K-A- (Nederlandse Rode Kruis Afdeling Indonesia).

The Indonesian Red Cross in BANDUNG.

The main activities of the Indonesian Red Cross in

Bandung • • • « 5

Bandung was in the Southern part of the city, since the Northern part was occupied by the British troops. Units of the Indonesian Red Cross in North Bandung had to evacuate supplies and equipment from the Pasteurs Institute and the Technical Institute to the Southern part of the city and afterwards to Central Java. In 1946 even South Bandung had to be left due to the intensive military opera­ tions against the defenders of the Republic. Bandung was left in a special way namely after burning the city : this event is historical and known as the "BANDUNG LAUTAN API" which means "Bandung, sea of fire". After leaving Bandung the Indonesian Red Cross joined the units in the other cities around Bandung, taking care of sick and wounded soldiers as well as civilian victims. In 1947 according to an agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch the army had to leave the West-Java region and move to Central-Java; the Indonesian Red Cross p accordingly left Bandung except some units which remained in the cities. It is worth to note that many women were involved in those Red Cross activities, saving the men for fighting purposes. Among others were actively involved Miss Sunarti Gondokusumo (now Mrs. Nasution, wife of General Natution), Miss Artati Sudirdjo (now member of the Supreme Advisory Council), Miss Isbandiah (now Mrs. Satrio).

The role of the Indonesian Red Cross in SURABAYA.

Everybody knows the heroic battle of Surabaya, the city which took the challenge of the British combined i armed forces in answer of the appeal of General Mansergh, Commanding General of the British forces to surrender unconditionally. In spite of heavy bombardment from British battleships, strafing by fighterplanes the young fighters for freedom

fought ... 6

fought enthusiastically with all means against the landing troops, consisting of crack-units of the Indian division. The Indonesian Red Cross led by dr. Suwandi and dr. Sutopo took care of all wounded and treated them in the general hospital; when the hospital was also in danger, the whole hospital and medical as well as nursing crew, moved to Malang, Mojokerto and other :iti«> outside Surabaya, Thousands of patients had be moved in the night by tral.,.

The Indonesian Red Cross in SEMARANG.

In Seioarsng there was a magnificent battle between the Indonesian fighters for freedom and the Japanese army, which refused to recognize Indonesian authority; the Indonesian Red Cross had a lot to do and nearly- all doctors and nurses joined the Red Cross to help the wounded, consisting mainly of students of highschools. One doctor, Dr. Kariadi was shot when he was trying to check the water purification installation of Semarang, which was told to be poisoned. His name is now used for the General Hospital in Semarang.

Meanwhile the Headquarters of the Indonesian Red Cross wes settled in Yogyakarta. Assistance from outside Indonesia was given by the Indian Red Cross, which sent a plane filled with medicines brought by 3 doctors, among others dr. Nirula, who afterwards served in UNICEF. A Red Cross plane carrying Prof. dr. Abdulrahman Saleh from Singapore with a load of medical supplies was shot down by Dutch fighterplanes. Instead of discouragement this event was regarded a_s -a—ilFTo-i-c- aaaat, increasing the fighting spirit of the young Indonesians.

In December 1948 the Dutch armed forces launched a general attack on all cities of Java and Sumatra, except the Aceh-province. The Indonesian Red Cross was dispersed, * following the guerilla-system. But nevertheless ij» the V - cities .... 7

cities many members remained active to -supply the units outside the cities, without committing to join the Dutch Red Cross.

After recognition of the independence by the Otitch in December 1949, the Indonesian Red Cross, now under Chairman of Prince Bintoro, brother of the Sultan of Yogyakarta appeared in the cities again to prepare further development

n rst of all the authorization of the Indonesian Red Cross Society by the Indonesian Government was done by Presidential Decree of January, 16, 1950, as the sole National Red Cross Society.

Actually, the idea of founding a national Indonesian Red Cross was born before World War II, but it could not be realized under the Netherlands-Indies Government or the Japanese military regime from 1942 until 1945. The Dutch had established a Red Cross Organization sinds 1870 under the name of Netherlands-Indies Red Cross. Facing the threat of the Japanese military operations programs for first aid were developed mainly in the big cities, involving the Dutch community and some Indonesians such as medical students and government employees. I,t was natural that the Indonesians wanted a pure national Red Cross and therefore they trained themselves in first aid and relief-activities such as food- distribution by establishing a mobile kitchen etcetera under the name of PEKOPE, an abbreviation of Penolong Korban Perang (Assistance for war victims). When the Indonesian Red Cross was founded in 1945 the skill for giving first aid and relief to victims of war or disaster was alre'ady existing and easily practiced by the units of the Indonesian Red Cross everywhere.

After the recognition of the sovereignity of the Republic of Indonesia (at that time as a federal state) by the Dutch government in December 1949, the Indonesian Branch of the Dutch Red Cross, had to be transferred to the

Indonesian ... 8

Indonesian Red Cross in a ceremony held in Jakarta Head­ quarters of NERKAI (Nederlandse Rode Kruim Afdeling ^ Indonesia)

On June, 15, 1950, Dr. Moh. Roem, 3»Cting as represen­ tative of the Indonesian Government, signed the Conventions of 1929 of the Red Cross in Bern, Switzerland, where upon official recognition was obtained frg*t the Inter/iational Committee of the Red Cross

On October, 16, 1950, the Indonesian ked Cross became the 68th member of the League of Red Cross Societies at the 21st meeting of the Board of Governors held in Monaco which was attended by the Secretary General of the Indonesian Red Cross Dr. Pudjo Darmohusodo.

Meanwhile the Indonesian Red Cross Society entered its fifth year of existence and in spite of the difficulties during the revolutionary years it bad convened already three conventions in Yogyakarta; for the consolidation and the , transfer of the NERKAI, it was necessary to hold a 4th Convention to make a new program, using the additional J facilities from the NERKAI, such as bloodtransfusion-service.

The Convention which was held the following yeaT, namely the 5th Convention concentrated on peacetime-programs and training of volunteers, such as needed for health, nursing, disaster-relief and bloodtransfus ion. The Junior Red Cross was established in the 1950 Convention.

The development of the Red Cross in the following years was disturbed by emergency-conditions caused by natural as well as manmade disasters, which had to be handled by the Indonesian Red Cro.ss as far as the humanitarian side is concerned. The geographical condition of our country which consists of thousands of islands separated by sea and straits cause many difficulties in the field of transportation. The parts of the country which need help from the Indonesian Red Cross had to be reached by sea-transport as well as air- < transport, so that the personnel had to be trained for these new tasks. The experiences, gained in those operations were * useful for a renewel of our pattern of organiz-»ti<>n..

At • « • 9

At the 6th National Convention of the Indonesian Red Cross

V held in 1954 the reorganization of relief services and a training-program for instructors were organized. The humanitarian operations during the insurrection against the Republican Government which the Indonesian Red Cross has accomplished in South-Sulawesi, in the Moluccas, as well as in Sumatra and North Sulawesi, have enriched us with experiences to be considered in making standing procedures in time of internal armed conflicts. In spite of the fact that the Indonesian Government had not been committed to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the behaviour of the Government, the army and the Indonesian Red Cross was nevertheless in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Red Cross; victims from both sides of the conflicts were treated without discrimination, bearing in mind that they were still Indonesian citizens, human beings and according to the philosophy of the Indonesian people HUMANl'TARIANISM is one of the five principles of Pancasila which should be respected in all conditions. Although thi. was not always easy, the Indonesian Red Cross could succes- fully maintain the tolerance needed.

Another problem had to be faced, when the Government made a regulation on the limitation for Chinese nationals to do business in the districts; a great number of Chinese nationals had to leave the country and return to China. Although the Indonesian Red Cross was not responsible for their repatriation, it was its duty to establish relief- stations at crucial points as collecting-places and embarkation points. This was not the first time that the Red Cross had to deal with Chinese problems; during our struggle for independence there were also refugees consisting of Chinese who had to leave some areas. The problem of West-Irian which was not included in the transfer of sovereignity in 1949 by the Dutch to the Indonesians, became a political conflict, when President Sukarno claimed this part of the former Dutch-Indies

territory 10

territory, which belong to the Indonesian territory according to the Constitution. The dispute mounted to a complete hostile stadium, where the diplomatic-relations / between the two countries were broken, and Dutch nationals had to leave the country. This exodus or repatriation of Dutch nationals gave another job to the Indonesian Red Cross in assisting actively between December 1957 and June 1958, establishing stations and posts for medical and nursing care, at railway-stations, ports of embarkation and other necessary points. In this way The Indonesian Red Cross had assisted 3140 Dutch nationals who needed help. In 1961 the Dutch nationals who stayed in Indonesia had no means of living and they were brought to the Indonesian Red Cross; the Indonesian Red Cross acted as transit-bank for these people, receiving money-transfer from the Dutch Government through the I.C.R.C. In this case the Indonesian Red Cross did the job of I.C.R. - which was performed succesfully from June 30, 1961 to June, 1963, when the relations between the two countries were ✓ resumed. A message service was also done from January 15C1 to September 1962, when 2876 messages were transferred to the Netherlands and 1226 from the Netherlands.

In the Battle of Aru, where Admiral Jos Sudarso was lost together with his battleship due to an air-attack by the Dutch, 52 survivors of the battle, who were picked up by the Dutch were made prisoners of war. The acting Secretary General of The United Nations made an appeal to I.C.R.C. to give assistance for the release of those prisoners, kept in West-Irian. Accordingly Mr. Andre' Durand of the I.C.R.C. went to West Irian to collect these 52 prisoners and brought them to Singapore, where they were met by a special team sent by the Indonesian Red Cross and immediately transferred to Jakarta by an Indonesian aeroplane. < *

i It was T

- l i ­

lt was clear that for every kind of activity personnel was needed, and therefore the Indonesian Red Cross trained 1000 volunteers for first aid, evacuation, hospitalization and rescue. The training was given by the military medical training centers of the army and the navy medical services When in August, 1962 an agreement between the Indonesian and the Dutch Government was reached, the special preparations could be stopped, for grandscale operations wer ' unnecessary. In West Irian the Dutch Red Cross had a branch, which had to be replaced by a branch of the Indonesian Red Cross. For this purpose the Indonesian Red Cross sent a representative to make contact with the "West Nieuwguinea" Red Cross. After several meetings it was agreed that all the responsibilities and assets of the WNG Red Cross would be transferred to a transitional body with the name "Palang Merah Irian Barat" (West Irian Red Cross) during the period of U.N. administration (UN temporary executive administration) On May 1, 1963, this branch became an official branch of the Indonesian Red Cross.

III . ORGAN I z A T I 0 N 12

III. ORGANIZATION

The legal status of the Indonesian Red Cross is an Association recognized by Presidential decree as the only organization of red cross in Indonesia. The National Headquarter is in Jakarta, while in every province there is a provincial headquarter (the number of provinces is 27), and in every regency and municipality a chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross. The total number of regencies is 280. On each level we have an executive board, so that we have a National Board in Jakarta, a provincial board in each province and a local board in every regency, consisting on each level of prominent community-1eaders. Several chapters have already subchapters in every district, which in the densely populated island of Java covers some 30.000 population.

Every 3 years a national convention is held in one of the big cities, where all chapters are represented by a delegation and also the provincial board are represented This national Convention is the supreme decisionmaker, policymaker and have the right to elect the National Boa to make or to revise the constitution and the bylaws of the Society.

The elected National Board has to implement the decision made by the Convention Since the main activities are in the hands of the chapters, the National Board has the main task to make guidelines for the chapters in the field of management, information, technical set-up of bloodtransfus ion services, ambulance services, and social welfare-programs. International relations have to be maintained by the National Board and also the relations with the Central Government, the President being the Patron of the National Red Cross.

Since 13

Since the plenary session of the National Board is twice a year, the Secretary General is responsible for the daily activities and therefore he has a fulltime job and is paid by the Red Cross.

Generally speaking each chapter.has the following scope :

1. maintaining an office/chapter-H.Q.

2. information and propaganda, dissemination of red cros: spirit.

3. training of volunteers and junior red cross.

4. courses in nursing and social welfare-activities.

5. blooddonor-recruitment and transfusion service.

6. disaster preparedness program.

7. fundraising.

Many chapters have a dispensary, sometimes a mother and child healthcenter, a maternityward or even a small hospital. The bloodtransfusion services have become more important in connection with the national development-program on health with the target to have a referrel hospital in every regency, where 4 specialists will be in charge in the field of surgery, obstretics and gynecology, internal medicine and pediatrics. This means that the need of blood will increase and there fore the Red Cross chapters have to accelerate their blood- transfusion programme accordingly. On provincial level we have established logistical depots for disasterpreparedness, beginning with the most disaster- prone areas. On national level we have a national center for blood- transfusion, a general hospital in the city of Bogor, about 40 miles from Jakarta, a highway-ambulance service from Jakarta to Bandung and trainingcenters for leaders of red cross and bloodtransfusion-assistants for the

collecting ... 7

14

collecting of blood.

To understand the organization of the Indonesian Red Cross properly a background information might be useful.

Background-information on Indonesia

Indonesia is an archipelago, consisting of approximately 13.000 islands, 3,000 of which inhabited; the strategic position between the Asian Continent in the North and Australia in the South, places Indonesia as a crossroad between many countries of the world especially between Western countries and the Far Eastern region.

Geographically it is situated between 95° and 141° longitude and between 6° North and 11° South latitude thus having a tropical climate; the distance from W.est to East is about 5,200 km (3,000 miles) and the distance between the Northern border and the South border is approximately 2.000 km (1,200 miles). Since there is more water than land the land-area consist of 1,904,350 square kilometers J or 735,300 square miles.

The island is mostly mountaineous and have many volcanoes, a part of which are still active and gome of them causing regularly alarming eruptions of minor scale la the coastal regions the surface consist of plains and marshes, crossed by big rivers which usually Can be used as waterways, such as in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The number of active volcJihoes is 167 and that of inactive volcanoes 540.

The population is an anthropological mixture of all races, but the Mongoloid component is dominant? the Deuteromalayan is regarded as the last anthropological layer. It consist of many ethnic and teligious groups, speaking about 150 dialects from 35 language families. Nevertheless they have one national language, namely the 4 Indonesia language ("feahasa Indonesia"), which was 4 originally .... 15

originally taken from the Malay-language. The religions are Islam (majority), Roman Catholic, Protestant (appr. 5% each), Buddhists (3%) and Hindu (2%).

The number of people at this moment (1977) is appr. 130 million. It was 70 million in 1945, 97 million at the population-sensus in 1960, 124 million at the sensus in 1971. The greatest number of people live on the islan of Java, Madura and Bali, the most densed populated area in the world, with an average of 609 per kilometer. To have a better idea of this unbalanced distribution of population the following list could be useful :

1. Java and Madura 80 million 609/km2.

2. Sumatra 20 M 4 2/km2.

3. Kalimantan 5 II 9/km2.

4.Sulawesi 9 II 4 7/km2.

Administratively Indonesia is divided in 27 provinces and 290 districts (kabupaten) and municipalities (kotapraja) with an autonomous status and these districts (kabupatens) are divided ii sub-districts (kecamatan) numbering totally 3,000? these subdxstricts coordinate approximately 60,000 villages. The communication consist of land, sea and air- communication, the latter undergoing an important progress in the last 5 years. Telecommunication will become a most modern one using domestic communication satellites for telephone, telegraph, telex, radio and television.

Although many modern systems has been developed, still a lot of problems remain unsolved, because the rising demands in a rapidly developing country are much more than the progress in production and the increase of the gross national product.

The provinces and regencies are different in size, population, “oonomic condition, fertility and facilities, so that we cannot make a plan which is feasible for all.

Plans ... 16

Plans have to be flexible and ajustible to the local conditions. /

The Unitarian Republic of Indonesia is divided in 27- provinces :

1. Aceh, the Most Northwestern situated one, 2. North Sumatra, 3. West Sumatra, 4. Jambi, 5. South Sumatra, 6. Riau, 7. Bengkulu, 8. Lampung, all of these provinces on the island of Sumatra, 9> West Java, 10» Central Java, 11. East Java, 12. Jakarta Metropolitan, 13. Vogyakarta, all those five on the island of Java, 14. Bali, 15. West Nusatenggara, 16. East Nusatenggara, 17. West Kalimantan, 18. East Kalimantan, 19. South Kalimantan, 20. Central Kalimantan, 21. North Sulawesi, 22. Central Sulawesi, 23. South Sulawesi, 24. South Eastern Sulawesi, 25. Maluku, 26. Irian Jaya, the most Eastern one, 27. East Timor, the newest province of Indonesia.

Every province has its provincial Parliament. v The provinces are divided in districts, also with a 4

district tf 4 - 16a -

^ « ,V l( 2 )

REPUBLIC OP INDONESIA IS DIVIDED IN 27 PROVINCES (1) ACE H. (a) LAMPUNG. (15) WEST NUSATENGGARA. (22) CENTRAL SULAWESI. (2) NORTH SUMATRA. (9) WEST JAVA. (16) EAST NUSATENGGARA. (23) SOUTH SULAWESI. (3) WEST SUMATRA. (XO) CENTRAL JAVA. (17) WEST KALIMANTAN. (24) SOUTH EASTERN SULAWESI, (4) JAM B I . (ID EAST JAVA. (18) EAST KALIMANTAN. (25) MALUKU. 5) SOUTH SUMATRA. (1 2 )JAKARTA METROPOLITAN.(1 9 ) SOUTH KALIMANTAN. (26) IRIAN JAYA. 6) R I A U. (13) YOGYAKARTA. (20) CENTRAL KALIMANTAN. (27) EAST TIMOR. (?) BENGKUUL, (14) BALI. (21) NORTH SULAWESI. 17

district parliament elected every 5 years by gene ral elections.

The Indonesian Red Cross has accordingly 2 7 provincial. boards:

- Aceh, with ...... 9 chapters

11 - North Sumatra, with ......

11 - West Sumatra, with ...... 8

l» Rian, with ...... 5

• ' It J a jn h i r with - ...... 6

If - South Sumatra, with .....

tl - Bengkulu, with ...... 4

11 West J a v a , with ...... 23

it - Central Java, with ...... 3 4

If Flash J r v a . w ith ...... 3 2

it - Jakarta Metropolitan, with ...... 5

II logyakarta, with ...... 5

if R a 1 i , wi t.h ...... 8

11 - West Nusatenggara, with ...... 6

It - East Nusatenggara, with ...... 1 4

If - West Kalimantan, with ...... 7

fi - East Kalimantan, with ...... 6

ft - South Kalimantan, with ...... 12

tl - Central Kalimantan, with .

If - North Sulawesi, with ...... 6

It - South Sulawesi, with ......

It - Central Sulawesi, with ...

II - South East Sulawesi, with ...... 4

II - Maluku province, with ...... 5

If - Irian Jaya, with ...... 9

ft — East Timor, with ...... 13 18

IV. ACTIVITIES /

A. FIRST AID

First aid is one of the oldest programs of the Red Cross. In the begining of the existence first aid was very important and every member of red cross practically was carrying a first aid bag. Therefore training of first aid was the prime-mover for every red cross chapter. This was recently proved in East-Timor; the special team which was sent to DILLI started immediately with the training of local volunteers consisting of highschool-students in first aid, transportation of patients, nursing care and relief. With their participation the access to the people was very easy. Within one month the Indonesian Red Cross became popular in East Timor.

Since the first aid kit is not only equipped with bandages, but also with some drugs or medicines, it is always easy to have it at hand; that is the reason that public transport is obliged to have a first aid kit with a red cross sign, and volunteers as well as junior red cross members are equipped with a bag or a package containing bandaged and medicines.

Training of first aid is not only given to red cross members, but also to groups who are interested such as women associations, boy-an girl scouts, members of the police, employees of the railway Company etc. This training of first aid includes the transportation of patients with all kinds of handicaps, improvisation of stretchers, improvisation of splints etc.

To encourage the volunteers and the junior red cross in this direction, competition in first aid is held every two year in one of the provinces since 1972 and from this competition we have made a documentary

film 19

film for instruction? in 1974 the competition was J attended by delegates consisting of volunteers from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, a representative of the Swedish Red Cross and a delegation from Canada; in 1977 the competition will be held in Jakarta.

Implementation of first aid is actually done by the ambulance-services, which were started by the National Red Cross for the very important route Jakarta- Bandung, a highway with the most heavy traffic and the greatest number of road-accidents.

B. NURSING

Home Nursing

The home-nursing program was started in 1953 and « proved to be very popular for the women-associations, which are very important in the Indonesian community. Since we could mobilize senior nurses and midwives for the instruction, it was not difficult to make this program cne of the attractive activities of Red Cross for each chapter. The objective fcr this program was that every family cculd handle the sick people at least in the right way, before a doctor or a nurse could be called for help.

Hospital-nursing

Since we have a hospital in Bogor, which has to take care of the sick and wounded in the whole area including the highway from Jakarta to Bogor, a school of nursing has been established since 1960 and the graduates could be used either in the hospital or in other government of private hospitals. For modern •nursing in the intensive care unit a special training

is needed. 20

is needed. In this respect we have got the opportunity to cooperate with the CARE- MEDICO, an international agency of the American Community.

Public Health-nursing

The new trend of assessment to the public to improve general health conditions is public-health nursing, which has been discussed in a seminar held in Jakarta in August, 1975, attended by delegates of 17 Asian Red Cross Societies. This seminar opened new horizons for the nursing profession and made the communication between the red cross and other agencies more important and necessary.

In the frame-work of the public health programs in Indonesia the Indonesian Red Cross is a potential auxialary force for grassroot-improvement of health and welfare.

Fieldhospital-nursing

In case of missions to be performed during armed conflicts, such as we have experienced during rebellions in 1951 and 1958 and also in the humanitarian operations in East-Timor, skilled and dedicated nursing-personnel is needed; for this purpose we use retired army-nurses and volunteers. The implementasion of first-aid, nursing, medical treatment can be observed in the chapters, in the highway ambulance service, in the dispensaries or polyclinics in many chapters, ;i.n maternity-clinics, in small hospitals and in the general hospital of the Indonesian Red Cross in Bogor. These activities were regarded as traditional until we had the legalization from the Government by decree of the minister of health (regulation number 012/ 1972).

In the 21

In the framework of the welfare-program as stipulated by the League of Red Cross Societies the Indonesian Red Cross already has the fundamental nucleus, and it depends on the development of the chapters in cooperation with the local health-services the National-Head-quarters of the Red Cross has made manuals to be used by the chapters.

In cases, where the emergency turns out to be too much for the chapter, the provincial board gives assistance and if this is*also insufficient, the National Headquarter jumps in. Emergency could be caused by a longlasting drought which is usually followed by a scarcity of food and water; in those cases we regard it as a national disaster caused by natural circumstances and not as a routin case.

It is one of our aims, that the Red Cross in the future will be effective in the villages as a people to people mechanism of mutual help in the field of health and welfare as a factor of participation in the development of national health and welfare.

A recent visit of the Secretary General of the Finnish Red Cross and Vice-President of the League of , . 'if' '■ Red Cross Societies, accompanied by the Secretary General of the Australian Red Cross has proven, that the grass- •A ' root concept of the Indonesian Red Cross is firmly accepted in even remote areas of the country. The same observation has been done by Dr. Kingsley Seevaratnam, one of the officials of the League of Red Cross Societies, who is in charge of Asia.

BLOODTRANSFUSION

In 1950, when the Indonesian Red Cross took over the Dutch Red Cross assets, bloodtransfusion services were included in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya,

Yogyakarta 22

Yogyakarta, Medan, Padang, Palembang and Makassar (now named Ujungpandang). i The services consits of donor-recruitment, blood-taking, bloodprocessing and laboratory-activities. In the beginning it was not so easy for the Indonesian Red Cross to get the technical personnel needed for these services and used the assistance of foreign doctors, before Indonesian medical personnel had sufficient special training in this field. Close cooperation with the ministry of health was necessary and also with the army medical service. Connected with the Central Bloodtransfus ion Institute was the Laboratory which was run by the Government and also a production-unit for waterdestillation and solutions for parenteral use such as Sodium-chloride, glucose, Ringer-solutions etc. which was needed for completing the bloodtransfusion-process.

One of the big problems was the recruitment of donors; the Dutch had recruited donors from civilian offices, like banks, trade-offices etc. For the time­ being it was continued, while the ministry of health tried to look for a motivation-pattern which could be used in the Indonesian Community consisting of many groups of different religions and ethnic origin. In 1954 a statement given by a Committee consisting of Moslem experts it was confirmed that blood transfusion is not prohibited by the Islamic Religion, but on the contrary it is a duty to give blood if needed by a patient. Since then the recruitment of donors became easier. The system of awarding medals for donors giving blood 5, 10 and 15 times with a bronze, a silver and a gold medal started in 1956 and was a stimulating regulation to get more donors. In 1961 a national seminar was held on blood and bloodtransfusion organized by the Indonesian Red Cross, the Blood Institute of the Army and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Indonesia.

The . . . 23

, The participants consist of 65 medical doctors and 45 Red Cross officials and employees involved in the bloodtransfusion in various aspects. International contacts on bloodtransfusion were made in 1960, when the Director of the Army Bloodplasma Factory was attending the 8th international Congress on blood- transfusion, held in Tokyo; he was also representing the Indonesian Red Cross. In 1962 Mr. Roscoe D. Whatley of the American Red Cross was in Indonesia for three months to assist the Indonesian Red Cross In solving problems of blooddonor- recruitment and administration. A mobile unit for bloodtaking was donated by the American Rec Cross which is in use up to this very moment. With the assistance of the Minister of Peoples welfare a new building was erected to be used for the modern development of bloodtransfusion? this building, although not finished yet it is the most remarkable building in front of the University of Indonesia, bearing a big Red Cross sign with the name of BLOODCENTER in English. It is run by the Metropolitan Red Cross Transfusion Service and is open around the clock. Every day many relatives of patients are to be found to be sure that blood for their sick family in one of the hospitals could be supplied. Voluntary donors of all ages between 17 and 60 year are always to be seen waiting their turn, among others applicants for a drivers licence, who has to donate blood as one creditpoint for their examination. Since 1969 the Indonesian Red Cross has made a development programme for local transfusion-services, so that within a span of time hll chapters could have a bloodtransfusion- service . In the beginning a chapter has to set up a donor-service, registrating volunteers but the bloodtaking is done by an existing bloodtransfusion service of a neighbouring .chapter. When the development of bloodrequirement in the chapter'’s region has reached a certain amount, then it is necessary to have an own bloodtransfus ion service; the set-up of a new one is supported by the national

bloodcenter .. 24

bloodcenter by giving the most necessary technical- equipment as centrifuge, and everything needed for a bloodtest. Personnel needed for the technical implementation has been regularly trained in Jakarta, about 40 male and female socalled bloodtransfusion assistants, graduates from highschools and trained for 6 month, thouroughly tested in the daily practice of safe bloodtaking- procedures in the center as well as in the mobile units; the doctor needed for the control is trained for 2 weeks in the national-bloodcenter for initial knowledge and some have got the chance to be trained in Australia or in the Netherlands to have a better insight of a fully developed modern institute, thus being able to teach other technical personnel, when he or she returns to Indonesia. In this way we have developed within 7 years blood- transfusion-services in 40 chapters of Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok and Timor, while in Jakarta the bloodtransfusion-service has been developed in cooperation with the general hospitals and supplied by donors from offices, universities and factories, collected by six mobile units, which practically is on duty every day, so that at this moment the bloodsupply for all patients in the general hospitals and maternity clinics is sufficient.

D. DISASTER RELIEF

Indonesia consist of islands of various nature; there are islands with volcanoes which are still working and volcanoes with potential danger of eruption; there are islands with big rivers which are potential to become a cause of floods; there are parts of the islands with a very poor watersupply and thus potential for - seasonal scarcity of food and lack of vitamins and protein;

4 some islands .. 25

' some islands have no roads and is only accessible by air; so it can be imagined, that regularly natural . f * disasters such as floods, drought, foodshortage and malnutrition have to be faced; we have a special map of flood-areas, minus regions and volcanic troublespots. Even without an eruption heavy rains on the top of the mountains cause a heavy sandstream, destroying the villages along their route. Therefore the people in those disaster-areas use the word routin-floods and are to some extent adapted to the regular calamity; similarly minus-areas do not report in cases of under­ nutrition, until the medical service has to treat malnutrition-cases in the healthcenters; a cold- lavastream caused by heavy rains can wipe away bridges in one night and cause a lot of trouble in communication on land. The Merapi-mountain for example have frequently damaged a bridge between Yogyakarta and Magelang so that „ the Minister of Public Works decided to construct a new brigde specially 7 meters higher than the former one. J All these natural disasters have serious consequences because of the dense population in those areas, so that a lot of people are effected by a single river or volcano.

Naturally the Indonesian Red Cross as well as the Government has to be prepared for these mishaps.

In the history of the Indonesian Red Cross the most dramatic disasters are the volcanic eruptions, because such eruptions are accompanied mostly by earth­ quakes, ashrains and explosions arousing a feeling of terriffic fear and panic among the people in the suroundings. Since 1954 the Merapi-mountain was active and a lot or villages have been left and the people moved to another island. A special system of warning has been set up and volcanological posts equipped with seismographs are constantly maintained at special points.

>J \ Nevertheless .. 26

Nevertheless nobody can forecast exactly what will happen. The local people only observe the shape of the smoke on the top to conclude that there will be an eruption or not.

In 1963 the Agung-mountain in Bali erupted heavily and unexpectedly; a stream of hot gas came downward and killed 1500 people on the spot; the villages at lower level mo.ved hastily to saver regions; panicstricken men, women, children and cattle run away to save their life. It was one of the most horrible disasters we have experienced: the aeroplane coming from Jakarta landed in Denpasar airport in the dark although it was still 3 o'clock p.m. The hotel (Bali-Hotel) was covered with ash, originating from the eruption. The road from Den- Pasar to Kintamani, which is considerable far from mount Agung, was filled with a layer of sand; there was notably a rain consisting of mud, destroying the crop.

The Indonesian Red Cross, together with the Civil Defense and the Army Medical Corps sent immediately men, money and relief to Bali. The local authorities established a special task-force to give shelter to thousands of refugees. Fieldhospitals and dispensaries were improvised in the disaster-area and from all parts of the world contributions were given through the Indonesian Red Cross. The Philippine Red Cross sent a special team consisting of doctors and nurses and a supply of medicines and vaccins for two months under the command of dr. Azurin, then quarantine-official of the Philippines (now deputy minister of health). They were assigned to an isolated village at the east part of the Agung-mountain, which was only accessible by sea-transport. They have accomplished a very important humanitarian task which will always be remembered by the Indonesian Red Cross , and the people of the village. The total amount of

victims ... 27

victims were 1582 death including 13C schoolchildren, 200 hospitalized with second degree burns, 46.000 homeless and 160.000 needing help. Relief collected from the Indonesian Community as well as from foreign countries consist of food, milkpowder, clothing, schoolequipment, household utensils and medicines. Money was needed for the operational costs and for distribution to the victims who had lost everything. After several months the people were moved to Sumatra as migrants.

Another volcano which was always alarming is the Kelud-volcano in East-Java, which has a crater-lake filled with hot water. The amount of water is so big that an eruption will cause a great disaster. The Dutch government had already made a tunnel to prevent an increase of the waterlevel beyond c certain height and thus hoping that an eruption will be less harmful. Up till this moment this mountain is a potential threat and even without an eruption the heavy rains cause every year a cold lavastream coming down­ wards to the cities of Blitar and Tulungagung. The ministry of public works has constructed special dams to stop the cold lava in the rainy season. Other eruptions occured on a tiny island in the North Sulawesi province which is close to the South part of the Philippines, in North Molucca and on the island of Flores. Actually there are many more possibilities of volcanic eruptions in this part of the world, but that is a part of the risk to have a country like Indonesia.

Floods

Floods is a yearly disaster connected with the rainy season and affecting big rivers in Sumatra and Java; on the latter island most of the floods are caused by the Ciliwung-river, affecting the Jakarta

region . . . 28

region, the Citarum-river affecting Krawang area, the Cimanuk-river affecting the Indramayu region, the r Citanduy-river affecting Ciamis, the Solo-river affecting several cities in Central and East Java and the Brantas-river affecting Kediri and Surabaya region. It is not only a repeated suffering for the people due to the damage of houses and household, but the agricultural production consisting of rice, corn etc. is totally lost and influence the marketprice in the whole country; therefore the Government always need an iron stock to minimize market-imbalances. To face the problems of floods, the Indonesian Red Cross has distributed reliefgoods to all the chapters so that any moment help could be given immediately before additional relief from other chapters, from the National Headquarters or from the League of Red Cross could be dropped. Usually the combined effort done by the local Government and the Indonesian Red Cross chapter is sufficient to cope with the problem, but sometimes the flood is so big, that chapters as well as the provincial board need the assistance of the National Headquarters.

In 1972 a flood in Central Java was destroying a big area in the Demak regency, east of Semarang, so that the assistance of the League was needed to help 60,000 people homeless during 3 months. It was the first time that the Indonesian Red Cross proposed to send money instead of reliefgoods, so that in a short time ( 2 weeks ) the money could be spent for local purchase of rice, medicines and other reliefgoods. This concept is very simple in the implementation, since all troubles concerning transportation, customs, clearing, and time-log could be prevented and the operational cost fully used for the victims without overheadcost-' .

Other . 29

Other kinds of disasters

Other kinds of disasters consit of fires, land­ slides, cyclones (small ones) and earthquakes. 'Earthquakes of a small size, usually in volcanic area, did not cause any trouble, but in 1975 big earthquakes suddenly occured in Bali and West-Irian.

The earthquake in Bali affected 3 regencies and 5 districts destroying totally one district and partly the other 4. In the district of SERIRIT in the vicinity of BULELENG harbour, a school collapsed suddenly killing 30 students; houses, shops and offices were destroyed, causing 500 people injured, 300 of them hospitalized. Immediate help was given by the army medical corps and the Indonesian Red Cross. An Australian battleship which was at that moment in Indonesian waters, was ordered to Buleleng to assist the stricken area. Within 6 days about 60 of the crew were dropped on land to give help in giving food, medicines, tents and watersupply and even a little electricity this was very much appreciated by the people. The Buleleng chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross had a lot to do, but fortunately they had no problems of lack of reliefgoods. A team from Singapore consisting of doctors and para­ medics rushed by two skyvans to Bali and worked for 3 days together with the Indonesian Red Cross. The destroyed houses were a great problem for the stricken area; tents were provided for the homeless as temporary shelter.

f

V. THE DISASTER ... 30

V. THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMM

To give immediate assistance in time of natural disaster we have to be prepared with a certain stock of reliefgoods, all the necessary means to give temporary shelter, clothing and food as well as first aid and medicines. The voluntary corps must be able to move directly for rescue, bringing tents, and organizing a mobile kitchen and a mobile clinic; since 1967 the Indonesian Red Cross had already 14 logistical depots in the most important centers, but there was no special program made for flying teams with a standardized pattern.

In 1972 the Secretary General of Xndoo£ross vieited the Swediefe Red Cross in Stockholm and spoke with the Secretary General Mr. Olof Stroh about the possibility of a cooperation-program especially for disasterrelief. The Swedish Red Cross was interested in the proposed development program, but would like to send a delegate to make a feasibility study and to find out the real needs of the Indoncross and the possibility to implement a joint program; for this purpose Mr. A. Olsen was sent to Indonesia. The latter being director of foreign relations of the Swedish Red Cross had worked on similar programmes in Africa before. After staying some months in Indonesia to study the background, the organization of the Red Cross on the national, the provincial and the local level, he made a report and at the same time a proposal agreed by the Indonesian Red Cross to his Headquarters in Stockholm i for the implementation of a disaster preparedness program.

Because of the geographical location of Indonesia and insufficient means of transportation and communication, a system of decentralisation and deco,.centration has been ff set up, giving more responsibility to reeions and chapters

<

to enable .... 31

to enable them to take immediate steps without waiting for National Headquarters.

For the same reason warehousing has been deconcentrated. Reliefgood at National Headquarters is kept to a minimum, just to face big disasters until nationwide as well as international assistance has arrived. At regional headquarter an amount of reliefgood is stocked just to enable the region to assist chapters in case of mediumsize disaster.

There is at Chapter Headquarters a stock of relief- goods for small disasters (criteria for classification of disaster to be found in the disaster Handbook).

The National Program elaborated by regions and chapters.

National Headquarters drafted the program in such a way that it will be applicable throughout the whole territory of Indonesia in particular for chapters located in disasterprone areas. Therefore references for location and intensity of disaster abilities in terms of personnel and goods are kept in broad outlines.

For a successful implementation of this program regions and chapters elaborate a more detailed plan in accordance with local conditions and needs, particularly regarding the personnel.

Planning of a local program by regional and chapter board.

The program was planned in 3 phases. The first is the predisasterphase,'the second the pase where the disaster strikes and lastly the postdisasterphase. Each phase has its own characteristics. For instance during the first full attention must be paid to the question where a disaster will strike, to the setting up of a plan of operation and training.

During . >3^ Jyf‘

- 32 -

During the second phase decisions has to be taken quickly and besides an effective public relation is required (the human factor). The last phase is the time for data collecting, making analysis and conclusions.

For all the three should be kept in mind that preparedness has a human aspect as well as a material one. That is to say that both men and material are to be ready. Men and material which are not in a stage of preparedness will be an obstacle for chapters in caryying their task in time of disasters. It is therefore that chapters and regions have to pay full attention to this matter.

It is not possible to be well prepared if there is no estimate of the place where a disaster will strike, if type and intensity of a disaster is not to be foreseen. For this reason particular chapters should have a detailed map of disasters, pointing out the location of villages and their population in that area and making clear where the roads are for escape of effected people. With this it is possible to plot means of relief such as clinics, field- kitchens and shelters.

A responsible officer and his deputy should be appointed able to carry out the task to face a disaster. To members of aid detachments or other volunteers well described tasks are to be entrusted. In chapters where disasters occur frequently training of detachments is to be ajusted to special conditions in accordance with the disaster handbook. Type, nature and number as well as storage of reliefgoods to be used in time of disaster should be well registered.

Training, particularly during the first phase of the program is a must for chapters to obtain the skill required in case of a disaster. Beside a training in accordance with the guidelines given by the handbook for aid detachments, a more realistic training is also necessary. By doing so the volunteers will have a good knowledge not only of the t

theory ... 33

theory of helping disaster victims but also the conditions '■ * t '.'J ' “• <*• on the field.

From the registration of reliefgoods and equipments as mentioned above regions and chapters should find out what goods and materials are still lacking for a good preparedness program. The shortcomings could be overcome locally. If not possible National Headquarters is to assist. There should be an appeal from regions and chapters concerned with an acceptable reasoning.

Public relations is a necessity in order to have maximum participation in time of disaster. Therefore regions and chapters should set up an efficient public relations, effective in all the three phases although ft r» x. f f r fj: C c 4* stress must be put on the sound phase. In this matter the man behind the gun is of most importance. Regions and chapters chould have this man.

"■>. .. c : ... Participation of the public to be achieved by public relations should be materialized in voluntary donations. At the other hand the Indoncross has to give a good account to the public concerning the donation in cash and kind received during the disaster.

Priority setting.

Principles:

• ' " a. Mass suffering caused by a disaster deserves a higher priority over suffering of a couple of victims.

b. Densely populated areas should be placed on top of the list o,f priority. At the other hand it is possible that other places get attention if they are suitable for the location of a dittst'er preparedness centre.

c. Duration of this program is scheduled for years beginning at the budget year 1975-1976.

The first . . 34

The first years.

a . Warehouses to be created at : 1. Jakarta i 2. Bandung 3. Semarang 4. Surabaya 5. Medan b. Each warehouse to be equipped with :

- Medicaments for 10,000 persons against stomach and intestinal illness, colds, skin-infections, eye-infections, vitamins and bandages.

- Fieldclinics 6 sets - First aid bags 60 bags - Stretchers 40 pieces - Rice worth Rp.2 million - Milkpowder 3 tons - Fieldkitchens 9 sets - Clothing and textile for 25,000 people - Sewingmachines 5 pieces - Tents of a bigger size 6 sets - High pressure lamps 12 pieces.

c. In addition the following equipments are required:

- portable hailers : 2 sets - short distance communication sets (walkie talkie) : 4 sets - Honda generating sets : 4 sets @ 800 Watt - rubberboats : 2 - foldable boats with outboard motor : 2 t - truck 4 tonner : one - jeep TOYOTA : one.

The second year (1976 - 1977).

a. Warehouses to be created at :

4 1. National ... 35

1. National Headquarters J ¥ 2. Menado 3. Kupang 4. Mataram 5. Denpasar 6. Ambon.

b . Warehouses equipped in the same way, ajusted to local conditions and needs.

c . The same.

d. Besides, a waterdrilling project to be carried out.

The third year (1977 - 1978).

a. Warehouses established in: 1. Ciamis 2. Yogyakarta 3. East Jay#. * b . The same. t c. Tne same.

d. Additional projects:

- Waterdrilling program to be continued.

- A seagoing boat one for Nusa Tenggara Barat (Kupang) one for the Moluccas.

- Fabrication of salt with a high jodium percentage againet goitre which is found in many regions with lack of jodium in the drinking water. Ihdoncross need a machine for making salt with jodium.

The fourth year (1978 - 1979).

Jt. Warehouses in PontiSwiak and Ujungpandang. b. The same.

c. The same.

d. Additional ... 36

d. Additional projects as follows:

- a sea going boat: one for North Celebes. one for South Celebes.

- long distance radio communication between National H.Q. and warehouses in Kupang, Ambon, Menado and Medan.

The fifth year (1979 - 1980). a. Warehouses in Palembang and Banjarntasin. b. The same. c. The same. d. Additional projects continuation of the projects of the 4th year radio-communication between H.Q. and warehouses in Mataram, Palembang, Pontianak, Banjarmasin, and Ujungpandaug.

Training♦ a. In the first week of December 1974 a working group held for a number of regions and chapters in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java and North Sumatra in order that chapters have their * local program and the region the guidelines for the management of the warehouses. b. In Januari 1975 a disaster preparedness training course for personnel from region and chapters with the first priority. c. Further disaster preparedness training courses held annually f'or other regions and chapters. d. Local training courses by chapters for their volunteers in order to obtain adequate skill.

Structure of warehouses. a. Definition: a warehouse is a unit established by

National ... 37

National H.Q. in a region for storage, administration, distribution and accounting of reliefgoods and equipment to be used in time of disaster.

b. Establishment of a warehouses :

- Warehouse to be created by National H.Q. for a fixed period covering a fixed area.

- If it is deemed necessary by National H.Q. a warehose can be closed for reason that it is more needed in other place for another reason.

- National H.Q., if necessary is entitled to divert the use of reliefgoods and equipment of warehouse.

Responsibility.

a. The Chairman of the Regional Board concerned is ex officio responsible fully to National H.Q. for the * management of a warehouse except National H.Q. appoint another official of the Red Cross. *1 b. The responsible officer of a warehouse gives to the National H.Q. an account for a certain period (once in 14 months) or whenever considered necessary.

c. The responsible officer of a warehouse hfcs to consult his colleagues in the regional ba^rd. In case of difference of opinion a decision is to be taken by National H.Q.

Competency.

The responsible officer has the right in time of disaster to take decisions as best as possible about reliefgoods and equipments of the warehouse within the limits of the regulations and guidelines given by the National H.Q. In his absence his deputy in the regional board is to replace him. Decision taken by the Deputy is to be reported in due course to the National H.Q. J

Delegation ... 38

Delegation of management.

The responsible officer appoint the head of the regional headquarters as day to day manager of the warehouse.

Administration of the warehouse.

The following requirements should be fulfilled : a. space adequate for the good and safe storage of reliefgoods and equipments. b. a register for incoming and outgoing goods. c. stockcard of each kind of goods. d. a good bookkeeping to enable National Headquarters to control the administration.

VI. THE ROLE ... 39

VI. THE- ROLE IN INTERNAL CONFLICTS

In the IVth Geneva Convention of 1949 these kinds of conflicts are indicated as: "conflicts not of an interna­ tional character" (art 3). Unfortunately we had in our country such internal armed conflicts since 1948, consisting of separatist rebellions, ideological insurgency, religious-coloured movements, etc.

The role of the red cross to give impartial assistance was performed without hesitation to civilian victims consisting of refugees, sick or wounded and the red cross posts could be set up on collecting points and emergency hospitals.

During the separatist movement in the Moluccas in 1951 the Indonesian Red Cross could even send a floating hospital consisting of a red cross ship where red cross medical and relief teams landed in the city of Ambon to take care of the civilian displaced persons and victims of the conflict, in this respect assistance was also given by the I.C.R.C.; the assistance included a message-service, establishment o + temporary schools and also visits to prisoners consistir'1 of rebels, giving them some means for recreation.

During the rebellion of the Moslim-oriented Kahar- Muxnkar regiment in South-Sulawesi many difficulties had to be faced by the Indonesian Red Cross due to the dangerous routes between the cities because of ambushes and snipers, so that the activities were very limited; nevertheless all means wete tried to implement the assistance to all victims of the conflicts mostly to refugees from unsafe areas to the cities. After the surrender of the rebellions troops, about 600,00$ people returned to the cities the Red Cross had to assist the Government in bondling them in the suplly of shelter, food and clothing., and to resettle them as normal cities.

Meanwhile ... 40

Meanwhile the National Headquarters of Indoncross run out of stock and an appeal had to be made to the League of Red V Cross Soc ieties which was spontaneously responded, so that the rehab ilitation process could be accelerated. Not only items as food and clothing were donated but also household utensils , agricultural tools and other means for economic purposes.

In 1958 another problem of internal conflict arose, The army in Sumatra, especially North and West Sumatra and the array in North Sulawesi supported an uprising against the Centr al Government, causing a v^ry serious situation; one of th e problems to be solved was the sudden lack of postal se rvices which was stopped by the rebels, so that many students in Jakarta did not receive the money they usually need for living and study; many families were anxious to know about the fate of their relatives in the rebellious area. The Indonesian Red Cross tried to establish a special message service by radio-communication and a special team to cover the border-areas; fortunately the red cross was trusted by both parties. When the situation got worse a red Cross ship was sent to the rebellious areas to collect foreigners who were in danger and preferred to leave the area, before military operations launched by the Central Government would be undertaken. Some 400 foreign nationals were evacuated by ship.

Indeed the Central Government soon started military operations towards the rebels in Sumatra and North Sulawesi giving the Indoncross the mission to take care of the civilian social and health services which were disrupted, thus dealing with .sick and wounded civilians and displaced persons, including special attention for foreigners who were still in the region. Approximately 400,000 people had to be cared of in one year.

When the rebels surrendered the Central Government had to rehabilitate the local administration which was disrupted. For the time being a part of the rebel-appointed

civil 41

civil administration could continue its work, but it was t) necessary to make a crashprogram in the field of medical services, which was done by the Red Cross; 21 medical posts were established spread out in the rebellious area, some of which had been isolated completely during 3 years. Teams consisting of medical personnel and relief volunteers were stationed to restore the health and welfare by distribution of food, medicines, milk and vitamins, while medical doctors gave health education to the community, mostly to mothers and youngsters, to promote the sanitary and environmental conditions. A message-service for the communication between relatives which were separated in the course of the rebellion was established; in this way the troubles caused by the rebellion were partly solved, which was useful for the restoration of normal conditions of peace and order. The Red Cross teams were treated very well even by rebel forces, since they were working only on humanitarian basis. ^ These transitional programs turned out to be successful and continued until the Governmental services worked normally again. During one year about 500,000 people were cared of, thus accelerating the restoration of normal life.

It has to be noted, that in such an internal conflict the Indonesian Red Cross could give assistance in a neutral way, without inviting the intervention of the I.C.R.C.; the presence of I.C.R.C. could be regarded by the rebellious party as a support from outside and therefore could not be agreed by the Government; anyhow the Indonesian Red Cross could handle the problem sufficiently, and successfully. A1 these procedures were implemented before the Conventions of 1949 was signed by the Government.

The Humanitarian Operation in East-Timo.r .

# In the beginning of August 1975 the Indonesian Red ; Cross hosted the first Asian Red Cross pursing Seminar

which 42

which has held in Jakarta successfully. At the end of August an emergency call was received from the regional or provincial Red Cross in Timor requesting for, immediate assistance to cope with the problem of refugees coming from the Portuguese part of Timor; this exodus was caused by a political controversion in that part of Timor which had turned into an armed conflict. Since we were aware that the chapter in the border area of Timor would not be capable to handle this problem we took steps for action. An advanced team consisting of senior field officers were sent to identify the magnitude of the problem and the necessary steps to be taken. Meanwhile the Ministry of Home Affairs established a humanitarian task force, which included the Indonesian Red Cross, since the nurber of refugees increased rapidly, namely reaching 20,000 in 2 weeks and still increasing every day.

The advance red cross team reported that the emergency situation was indeed serious; local volunteers were mobilized and trained during 10 days tc be prepared for proper relief activities, medical and relief teams were sent immediately to the border chapter with adequate equipment and supply to take care of the refugees, consisting mostly of women and children in a very poor condition. The field-conditions are not favourable for quick transport in that part of Indonesia, but the spirit of the Indonesian Red Cross teams was very good and got very much support from the community. An appeal through the newspapers brought immediately a lot of money, foodstuffs and clothing to the Indonesian Red Cross Head­ quarters. In the small city of Atarabua in the border area meanwhile all kinds of bu ldincs were occupied to give shelter to the refugees, but this was not sufficient so that emergency barracks had to be built. An appeal to the League of Red Cross Societies were handled by I.C.R.C., which sent a delegate to the area and witnessing the grave situation, supported Indoncross vith funds for operation. > €

Meanwhile ... 43

Meanwhile an I.C.R.C. team was working in DILLI the capitol of East Timor mobilizing doctors from Australia. At the end of December 1975 the political struggle in Portuguese Timor took a new course: Dilli was conquerred by the other party and a temporary Government was establishe the I.C.R.C. team which was in Dilli since the end of August retreated to Port Darwin, Australia. The temporary or Provisional Government of East Timor requested the Indonesia R ed Cross for humanitarian assistance; a special team consisting of doctors and nurses, equipped with medical supplies and reliefgoods left for Dilli and arrived at Newyears eve December 31, 1975.

In Dilli the special team started establishing an emergency office, mobilize the remaining youngsters in the city to be involved in relief-activities. This- Red Cross team, which arrived early enough in the city which suffered from the heavy fighting, was a blessing for the displaced persons, especially for the sick and wounded, who was concentrated in the city healthcenter of Dilli; some 200 patients were suffering and had a very poor treatment since there was not much left. Distribution of milk to the patients and the children, clothing for the displaced persons, food for the refugees kept the special team busy; logistical supplies were flown from Jakarta through Kupang to Dilli and the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross him­ self came to Dilli and Baucau to give his instructions and to find out the real needs for this region. Immediate steps were taken to improve the care for the sick and wounded, the hospital of Dilli which was not used yet, was mobilized to be occupied by the patients in the health center, a new medical team from Bandung built up hospital-care for the civilian patients and within 2 months a lot of improvement was accomplished by the Red Cross, giving a tranquilizing effect on the people of East Timor. Cooperation with the Catholic Church was established and all possible help given to orphans and schoolchildren.

When 44

When in June 1976 dr. Satrio came again for inspection, shops were already opened again, the red Cross fully in function,handling a message service, extending the activities to other cities of East Tintot and training youngsters in Red Cross work, thus giving them useful activities to fill their free time.

t

«

VII. THE JUKIOR 45

VII. THE JUNIOR RED CROSS

1 In 1950 the Junior Red Cross was introduced as a part of ,the Indonesian Red Cross activities to prepare the youngsters for a humanitarian attitude and rendering help when needed to victims of accidents, such as road- accidents, sports-accidents and cases of collapse during fieldceremonies, camping and other similar occasions, as a part of rescue procedures which are necessary to be known by the modern men and women of today. During the training the junior red cross are taught with the hope that afterwards these young people will become a member of the red Cross wherever they will be. In 1955 leaders for junior red cross were trained at the Headquarters during two weeks, to give them guidance in the field of first aid, home-nursing and organization for instruction to the youngsters. A discussion about their experiences in the chapters, knowledge about procedures of exchange with junior red Cross of other countries and y other interesting topics were additional topics which were useful.

The important activities in the past 30 years were as follows :

1. first aid and home nursing.

2. participation in red cross activities such as disaster- relief, fundraising, commemoration-ceremonies (World Red Cross day, National Red Cross day).

3. distribution of parcels to patients in the childrens wards.

4. exchange of paintings, handicraft, albums etc. with junior Red Cross of sister societies (Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, New Zealand, Pakistan, U.S.A., Switzerland, Poland, Peru).

5. •participation in conferences of Junior Red Cross in i India (1957).

VIII. LOGISTICS 46

VIII. LOGISTICS t For the humanitarian operations the Indonesian Red Cross need logistical resources, consisting of men, money and material. This must be collected from the community throughout Indonesia and from donations from sister societies through the League of Red Cross Societies.

Manpower.

One of the principles of the Red Cross is voluntary- contribution of the people; therefore the manpower of the red Cross consist mainly of volunteers, who are trained before by the Red Cross to be able for first aid, rescue, relief and nursing services. Every chapter has to create a certain number of a standing volunteer-corps who are available any time they are needed in an emergency. Beside this standing volunteercorps there are other volunteers who are willing to give a part of his or her time to work for the Red Cross in one of the activities without any payment. Usually the Boardmembers of the chapters have an idea about the people or groups of people who are interested in red cross activities and who are eager to help in one or another way. Members of women-organizations, students of a highschool or university, employees of some offices, members of the Scout-movements etc. are potential resources of manpower for the red cross and their involvement depends on the activities and public relations of the chapter.

Paid personnel has to be limited to the minimum number, which is needed to run the office of the chapter properly. A good secretary and a good finance-administrator is necessary and if the chapter can afford it, a special person for training-purposes will be excellent. For a bloodtransfusion-service technical personnel is needed unconditionally. - *

IX. PUBLIC .... 47

IX. PUBLIC RELATIONS i. ? Public relations is the most important requirement to ensure the public support; therefore from the very beginning the Indonesian Red Cross has close ties with governmental and non-governmental agencies organizations groups and individuals, national as well as international Every occasian which can be used for the information of the public about the Indonesian Red Cross and its activities is a platform of public relation. The World Red Cross Day on May 8, the National Red Cross Day on September 17. Opening-ceremonies and closing-ceremonies of courses, seminars, workshops on red Cross topics and problems are good opportunities to invite the press, radio and television to give them a chance to put the report in the newspapers and radio and television-news. This is the best way to report dramatically to the community about the activities of the red Cross, which is necessary for consistent maintenance of the interest of the people.

A systematic program of public relation has been started in 1973 by assigning an expert of the Ministry of Information to the Red Cross. Courses have been arranged especially on information and public relations. Short seminars and workshops for press-reporters and for members of womens organizations on bloodtransfusion have contributed a lot for the improvement of a blooddonor- resource from the community. Meet the press programs were arranged in the ministry of information in cooperation with the state information-service.

Documentation* by film of events like the activities of the ambulance service, the bloodtransfusion-service, the first-aid competition between the provincial red Cross volunteers, and even -the production of a specially planned propaganda-film on bloodtransfusion with a story of love x and road-accident, has been finished to be used for J

information '.. . 48

information in schools. k t The parliament regularly invites the National Board of the Indonesian Red Cross for a Public Hearing, which was'always done satisfactorily, thus involving the legislative body in the mechanism of Red Cross. For the operational activities of the Red Cross to cope with floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, the community through the newspapers, associations of professional groups and other organizations such as the Women-associations, usually donate not only reliefgoods but also money. In the last years we have got more of this kind of donations, because it turned out to be more practicle to handle money for all kinds of relief-articles than to receive lots of foodstuff and clothing which have to be stored and transported to sometimes remote areas. Sending of money for local purchase is much more efficient.

The willingness of the community to donate through the Red Cross for the benefit of victims of disasters r depends on the confidence of the community and the open management of the Red Cross. We are happy to see this confidence growing step by step due to our motivation campaign and the publicity of our activities through television programs and news papers. Up to 1974 the operational ability of Indoncross Headquarters was very limited, but since 1975 it increased rapidly; for the humanitarian operations in Timor more than 150 million rupiah has been collected from the community beside donations from I.C.R.C. and the Australian Government; for the earthquakes in Bali and West-Irian {Irian Jaya) more than 300 million rupiah were collected, so that for the first time in the history of the Indoncross many activities could be given effectively, using airtransport and mobilizing doctors and nurses from the ministry of health, the medical schools and volunteer-corps of the red Cross.

Operations .. 49

Operations in the field of nutrition in drought** stricken-areas could be performed quickly helping the health services of the government to meet the urgent needs of the villages which are situated very far from the cities. Similar attempts could be done in the field of watersupply.

In this way the Indonesian Red Cross has many reserves of resources from the Indonesian Community as well as from foreign countries; the most important thing is that we can motivate by effective activities which are witnessed by the public through audiovisual reports of the mass-media.

Involvement of the press in the mechanism of information by the Red Cross has been of advantage in the fundraising in time of emergency caused by natural disasters. The readers of the newspapers apparently are eager to give their contribution through the newspaper and having their name mentioned.

The relations with other agencies such as the W.H.O., the U.N.I.C.E.F ., the U.N.D.R.O., the C.A.R.E. agency from the U.S., the embassies in Jakarta and with the Government of the Republic, including the Armed Forces, the Universi' and the Schools of all levels, are maintained.

A special arrangement for cooperation has been made with the Scout movement, to have a mutual benefit from the nationwide organization.

A voluntary organization as the red Cross cannot move alone but has to be able to ensure the participation of all strata of the .community on all levels from the metropolitan city to the village.

A special attention has to be given to the relation with the civil defence organization, which formally was under the ministry of defence and at present under the ministry of home-affairs. The civil defence organization in Indonesia is mainly established to assist in security programs but can also be used in the rescue and natural- disaster preparedness-program. Warning 50

Warning systems, crashprograms and emergency-actions could be done anytime and anywhere.

A hotline-system between the headquarters of the Ind’oncross and the ministry of defence, ministry of health and ministry of social welfare is developed to ensure quich action in case of natural disasters.

r

x. INTERNATIONAL ... 51

X. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1 Since 1945 the Indonesian Red Cross started its relation to the International Committee of the Red Cross, namely by cooperation in handling the prisoners of war and the detainees; in 1947 the Indian Red Cross assisted the Indonesian Red Cross by bringing medicines and relief- goods by aeroplane to Yogyakarta, accompanied by Dr. Nirula, Dr. Ray and Dr. Sen. The British Red Cross visited the Headquarters of the Indonesian Red Cross in Jakarta represented by Lady Mounbatten and Miss Vickers (1945).

After the recognition of the Indonesian Red Cross by. the I.C.R.C. delegations were sent to the international Conferences of the Red Cross consisting of two or three persons to take part in these meetings and maintain the relationship with the leaders of the sister societies.

i Between 1957 and 1962 many foreign delegates visited j- Indonesia : T - Mr. Alfred Brown, National Commissioner of the Australian Red Cross,

~ Miss Yvonne Hentsch, Director Nursing Bureau of the League,

- Mr. Michel, Andre' Durand and Mr. Pierre Vibert, of the I.C.R.C.,

- Mr. Me Lennan, Vice Director, New Zealand Junior Red Cross,

- Miss Margaret Kretchmar, member of the Junior Australian Red Cross,

- Mrs. M. Koruth, Secretary General of the Malayan Red Cross,

- Dr. Me Nicholas, Chairman of ttie New Foundland Division, Canadian Red Cross,

Mrs. Geronimo ... - Mrs. Geronxiae T. Pecson, Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross,

- Dr. Fedor Zakharov, Vice-President of the Alliance of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the U.S.S.R.,

- Dr. Eneghul Khalliva, Chairman of the Red Crescent of Turkmania,

- General Alfred Gunther, President of the American Natl* Red Cross ,

- Miss Emily Getz, Vice Director Bloodprogram and Nursing, American Red Cross,

- Mr. E.V. Bhighinnati, Mr. G^vin Hoyt, Roscoe D. Whatley, Bill Cass, all of them of the American Red Cross.

In 1957 the Indonesian Red Cross sent a delegation to the International Red Cross Conference in New Delhi, consisting of members of the National Board.

In 1959 the Chairman of the Indoncross H.H. Prince Paku Alam visited the United States of America to make a study of the American Red Cross organization and at the same time to make a study of the public administration. On his way homewards he attended a commemoration of the birth of the Red Cross ideaat Solferino and afterwards he visited the I.C.R.C. in the new building.

In 1961 three members of the Board visited the U.S.S.R. Red Cross and Red Crescent Alliance; from Moskou they went to East-Germany and from the latter country to Prague to attend the XXVI th Conference of the Board of Governors of the League of Red Cross Societies. At the same year 3 staff-members of the Indoncross were given the opportunity to study the American Red Cross Organization during 4 months A Senior staff-member of the bloodtransfusionservice went to London to be trained at the North London Bloodtransfusion service, sponsored by the Florence Nightingale Memorial Scholarship.

Dr. John 53

Dr. John Me Lean, Australian Red Cross expert on blood- * transfusion, explained the use of the direct transfusion apparatus (after Julian Smith).

Mr.' P. Vibert, I.C.R.C. delegate to arrange the allowances of the Dutch Nationals in Indonesia.

Lord Inchyra, President British Red Cross, Mr. Charles Zukovski, Mrs. Edna Me Kinnon, Pathfinder Foundation visited Indonesia.

1963 : M. A.W. Rutten, Netherland Red Cross, to arrange the transfer of the West Irian Red Cross.

A Thailand Red Cross visiting group consisting of 7 members to attend the Indonesian National Day Celebration, invited by the Government (visiting Bandung, Solo, Bali).

1964 : i Clyde Howard, American Red Cross, Dr. Kingsley Seevaratnam. Ass. Dir. Div. Programming. r 1967 : Mr. S.A.Geonard, Pres. I.C.R.C.* Mr. Andre' Durand (I.C.R.C. Delegate for Asia), Mr. Chambrier (I.C.R.C. Delegate for Vietnam), Dr. Ganestian, Malaysian Red Cross, Dr. K. Seevaratnam, Mr. Leon Stubbings, Sec.Gen. Australian Red Cross.

1968 : Mrs. Celia Hart, Canadian Red Cross (Assistance for West Kalimantan). Mr. William H.S. Dabney, Under Secretary General of the League, Mrs. Roger Kimpton, Vice Pres. Australian Red Cross, Mr. Brain Hayes, Executive Officer Australian Council of Overseas Aid, Dr. J. Baer (I.C.R.C.), A t

Miss Diana .... 54

Kiss Diana Dicky, American Red Cross, Dr. Visser, orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Newman Morris, Pres. Australian Red Cross, Bill Dean, Australian Red Cross.

1969 : Mr. Alan Werner, Australian Friendship Tour ( A.R.C.) consisting of 23 members, Mr. Leon Stubbings and Dr. K. Seevaratnam, visited Indonesia.

In 1970 two I.C.R.C. delegates, Dr. Roland Marti and Mr. B. Daniel visited Indonesia to accomplish a special mission, namely to visit places of political detainees to see the conditions from the humaniturian viewpoint. With the assistance of the Indonesian Red Cross, they were allowed by the government to see two detention-places In the environment of the capitol. They were rather surprised to find reasonable conditions an 4 a kind of resettlement. * These visits were followed by a second one at the end of * the year, where they could visit the island of Buru, ik the Moluccas, where the detainees have made a resettlenent program in the field of apiculture.

In the same year the Indonesian Red Cross was invite-i to take part in a meeting of experts on humanitarian law, to be held in the Hague, to discuss the changes or amendments which was deemed necessary in the Geneva Conventions in connection with the changing methods of warfare . The Indonesian Red Cross accepted the invitation ard the

Secretary General , o f Indoncross, Mr. Suhanda I^as was one of the members of a delegation, consisting of experts from the ministries of Foreign affairs, defence and the R*d Cross. This meeting of experts was the basis f®r the diplomatic conference which were held afterwards in Geneva up to 1977. % I *In X---972 55

*' In 1972 the League of Red Cross Societies sent Mr. Greg Row to evaluate the need of assistance in the flood- stricken area of Demak in Central Java where about 60,000 people had become homeless; for the first time assistance was given in cash to accelerate the process of relief. In the same year Indoncross participated in a seminar on disaster-relief held in Indonesia by representatives of the South East Asian Nations : (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia).

In 1974 the Chairman of Indoncross participated in a conference on public health in Manilla, where he had the opportunity to meet the Chairman of the Singapore and the Philippines Red Cross to pave the way for a summitmeeting between the ASEAN Red Cross leaders to discuss the possibilities for a closer cooperation. At the same time Dr. Masri Rustam took part in a seminar > on bloodtransfusion in the same city. The summitmeeting of ASEAN Red Cross leaders was held »> in Singapore in June, 1975; it was inaugurated by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore Dr. Sheares and Mr. Adam Malik, the foreign minister of Indonesia, delivered the keynote-address. This conference was successful and produced a list of resolutions to create a mechanism of close cooperation in many fields of the red cross. Discussion on the Constitution of the League of Red Cross Societies, disaster relief, bloodtransfusion, fundraising were very useful to improve the capabilities of the Red Cross. In 1976 a meeting was held in Jakarta to discuss the new proposed Constitution of the League, which was very successful; an agreement and consensus about the new concept was reached after 5 days and a collective statement was made to be submitted to the League.

The first Asian Red Cross Nurfling Seminar was held in A Jakarta hosted by the Indonesian Red Cross and sponsored by t

the League ... 56

the League of Red Cross Societies, attended by delegates _ • from 17 Red Cross Societies from Asia and the Pacific I Region. Dr. Kingsley Seevaratnam as the deskofficer for Asia and Miss Muriel Skeat as Chairman of the advisory Board of Nursing of the League were also attending the seminar. For the Indonesian Nurses this seminar was a very important event. (Up till now two Florence Nightingale Medals are awarded to Indonesian Nurses).

For the preparation of the first Asian Regional Conference in New Delhi (held in 1977) a small ad hoc Committee of 5 Red Cross Societies were appointed in 1975, namely Iran, India, Indonesia, Australia and the Republic of Korea. A working session was held in Jakarta in the beginning of 1976, which was another experience for the Indonesian Red Cross in the field of international meetings.

Before the Regional Conference we had the privilege to be visited by Mr. Kai Warras, Secretary General of the Finnish Red Cross and Vice President of the League together with Mr. Leon Stubbings, Secretary General of the Australian Red Cross. They visited the islands of Lombok and Bali to see the / • activities of the Indonesian Red Cross in the field; special attention was paid to the nutrition-project in Lombok and the low-cost houses project, in Bali to help the victims of the terrible earthquake which had damaged quite a lot of dwellings in the densely populated island i ;• of Bali.

Mr. Konoye of the Japan Red Cross was interested in Indonesia and paid a visit to Indoncross after the regional conference in New Delhi as an active official of the J&pan Red Cross he was interested in the blood- transfusion» because there were rumours that foreign companies were buying blood from Indonesian resources? we assureo him thet this was not allowed by governmental regulation which was issued in 1972.

Meanwhile Meanwhile we have sent delegations to all kinds of seminars, courses and conferences of the Board of Governors of the League of Red Cross Societies, to all international conferences of the Red Cross and as mentioned before to all the diplomatic Conferences.

The participation of Indoncross in the international field has grown considerably which is both for Indoncross and for the International Red Cross Community of great advantage. 58

XI. CONCLUSION

The Indonesian Red Cross has grown from nothing to something within 32 years since its establishment. This is possible because of the dedication of the founders and the members of the Indonesian Red Cross on all levels, the cooperation with other societies, the League and the I.C.R.C. We are fortunate to have a natioaa.1 philosophy which includes humanitarianism, so that there are no problems in motivation to the public; the natural mutual helpsystem which is one of the most important fundamental social values of our nation is very helpful to set up chapters and subchapters in all the districts and sub­ districts.

With the very small per capita national income of * our country we have been able to do many difficult jobs by mobilizing the participation of the people and showing f» activities which are convincing for the man in the street.

May God bless all the workers and the contributers for humanity.

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