- VIVAnews/Tri Saputro
VIVAnews - Yayasan Air Putih, a non-governmental organization focusing on Information Technology and infrastructure recovery operations in disaster area, was upset over new regulations issued by the Directorate General of Post and Telecommunication at the Ministry of Information and Communications.
Imron Fauzi, Yayasan Air Putih Acting Coordinator, acknowledged that the Disaster Mitigation National Agency invited the foundation on Thursday, Jan 20, to a meeting.
"Telecommunication devices shipped to disaster area must be certified in the first place by the Directorate General," Imron told VIVAnews today, Jan 21.
In fact, every aid recipient like Air Putih has to have in store a certification as telecommunication operator. Air Putih has been relying on foreign fund as its financing source.
Imron said, the regulations may hamper immediate efforts on disaster mitigation. "Air Putih is not part of common commercial operators. It's a nonprofit organization which only operates during a period of disaster mitigation," said Imron.
Without the said certification, Imron said, a communication device cannot be stationed in a disaster area in more than a year.
"Imagine if no communication device is available. How can a disaster be reported right off?"
Air Putih still deals with disaster mitigation in post-tsunami Mentawai. Mediapeople depend much on communication channels built by Air Putih to broadcast reports from the area.
In the mean time, Minister of Information and Communications Tifatul Sembiring denied if the new regulations will be impeding disaster mitigation period. "Rule has it that all communication means making use of available frequency must be certified to avoid other parties using another frequency from being disturbed," Tifatul told VIVAnews.
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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana W
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