Tsunami Politics and the Future of South Asia

IWMC congratulates all those nations, businesses, and individuals that have given immediate and overwhelmingly generous contributions to those in need in response to the December 26 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Our heartfelt condolences to the survivors who have lost their families and communities, businesses and livelihoods.

The rest of the world is now making decisions on ways to offer long-term aid and helpful solutions for those who now have to rebuild their lives and develop their remaining natural resources. This is, inevitably, a political process. The world first noticed that aid was promised in increasingly larger amounts from the first day onward. Some have observed that this seemed to be a global competition among nations whose leaders wanted their pledge to be seen as the world's most generous. National images were made, dashed, and made again as the totals climbed in media presentations of the "global image auction". We sincerely hope that those huge amounts of aid can and are being distributed in a fair and ordered manner to those areas most in need. Some political factions, long at war with one another, have made it difficult for some volunteers to reach isolated pockets of despair, and some areas are just now, after three weeks of the aftermath, finally being contacted. May they find peace, hope and genuine help to alleviate their suffering.

As for the future, this should be entirely in the hands of those whose lives have been deeply entrenched in each stricken area. Some outsiders have actually claimed that "development" near the sea should never again be attempted, so that the areas affected would forever "remain clean" of infrastructure such as fishing port facilities, roads, power grids and most of all, tourist facilities. Such are the insensitive agendas of those who see the destruction as conducive to returning the area "back to nature". We feel deeply that the future of those in these stricken areas should emerge as confidently modern and renewed as they wish it to be. We urge that adequate coastal warning systems be an integral part of each rebuilding process, and we have confidence that this shall be the case.

The nations affected have their own image problems in this era of global communication. Some have first objected to the presence of others' military forces in the disaster relief operations. Sensible reconsideration and thoughtful diplomacy have since changed the tone to one of gratitude and the relief of knowing that within a matter of a few months, foreign troops shall depart, having done their humanitarian work. There is no international military agenda being played out here. Yet, human tensions in times of immense stress are a part of it all, and hasty reactions must be understood and forgiven.

Possibly, the immediate needs of the survivors shall be met very soon. We trust that the best judgments are being made on the use of pesticides to control malaria-bearing mosquitoes, so that the loss of life shall not escalate. IWMC World Conservation Trust wishes the people of south Asia the best future that they can build and we are sure that the rest of the world shall offer increasing amounts of real aid and expertise to get this immense job accomplished. We are sure that the offers of fishing boats, reconstruction of infrastructure, and both financial and spiritual help shall be an ongoing reality. This is now a global opportunity to work for the best possible result, through political and cultural tolerance, financial generosity, and spiritual compassion. May this effort succeed beyond all our expectations.