A year after the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated countries as far apart as Indonesia and Sri Lanka, newspapers across Asia consider the legacy of the disaster and assess the progress made in rehabilitating victims.
In India, there is concern that a tsunami-warning system for the Indian Ocean has not yet been set up. A Sri Lankan paper regrets that the solidarity between the Sihala and the Tamils in the wake of the tsunami did not endure.
In Southeast Asia, papers argue that a lot more reconstruction work is required, particularly in Aceh, the Indonesian province that was the worst affected region.
India's HINDUSTAN TIMES
"
Just a year ago, the word "tsunami" was virtually unknown, at least in the region from Indonesia to the shores of India where it now evokes dread. The waves... destroyed entire families and communities, ripped apart coastlines, destroyed the means of livelihood of millions of people. Lost lives cannot be recovered, but everything else can and for the past year, governments, NGOs, international agencies and individuals have put in a huge effort to rehabilitate those affected... But there is one area that is still lagging. The tsunami warning system that had been talked about in the wake of the disaster has yet to be set up. India will set up its own warning system by 2008, but it remains reluctant to share its data with an international system for strategic reasons. While the government view has some legitimacy, it must be carefully weighed against the needs of the tens of millions who may stand to gain, the next time a tsunami strikes.
"
Sri Lanka's SUNDAY OBSERVER
"
The tsunami saw the entire nation rising to help the victims. That was a magnificent spontaneous display of solidarity and comradeship, which saw no racial, religious barriers. Unfortunately, we have been unable to preserve this magnificent spirit as was later seen in the controversy over the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the Northeast. As regards disaster preparedness, we have begun to move only now. Much remains to be done. No amount of technology would help if the people were not made aware of disasters and how to react to them... Let the authorities resolve to utilise the synergy of the nation in the most efficient and rational manner so that by the next anniversary of that deadly tsunami all the affected would have been fully rehabilitated.
"
Indonesia's SUARA MERDEKA
"
The first anniversary of the tsunami disaster should create the drive for a comprehensive evaluation. Why are the government and the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency still seen as being slow, if not failing, to rebuild Aceh?
"
Indonesia's JAWA POS
"
Today is one year since the tsunami disaster in Aceh... It is just the beginning of reconstruction and rehabilitation there... Most importantly, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Aceh must be honest and fair... We should remember that mega-projects do not involve only social and humanitarian missions, but also commercial issues.
"
Malaysia's NEW SUNDAY TIMES
"
Most of the $13 billion available to bring salvation to the devastated populations of the Indian Ocean rim has been stuck in the bank. Unless things are speeded up, it may never be disbursed. There are indeed lessons to be learnt, and learnt quickly, if the tsunami's historic precedent is not to be squandered by the unrelieved suffering of its victims.
"
Commentary in Malaysia's UTUSAN MALAYSIA
"
For the people of Aceh, facts and promises [about reconstruction in Aceh] do not concern them. What they want to see is development... The point is that, we must give at least one more year to the Indonesian government to resolve problems in Aceh.
"
Singapore's BERITA HARIAN
"
Has the international community forgotten the victims of this powerful natural disaster and its promises to help them?... The international community must not ignore its responsibility to help the victims in order to make them independent once again so that they can live a better life.
"
Hong Kong's SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
"
The pain of loss never goes away; it merely dulls with time. For the survivors of the tsunami which struck Indian Ocean nations one year ago, there is still agony... A year after the tsunami, the global community should be proud of its achievements. But focus should not be taken off the goals and efforts needed to ensure that lives can be rebuilt. Memories will not fade any time soon for the survivors - and for their sake, nor should they for us.
"
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©