PR: 18

Jakarta, 10 June 2005

British Minister for International Development (DFID) Mr Gareth Thomas will visit Jakarta and Banda Aceh on 13-14 June 2005. Mr Thomas will call on a number of senior Indonesian officials, NGO’s and International organisations involved in the relief and reconstruction efforts in Aceh and North Sumatera.

Before leaving London, Mr Thomas said

“ We have committed £75 million to the Tsunami relief effort. Our ambition now shift to helping people rebuild their livelihoods, resolving conflict and helping people protect themselves from any future disasters.

We have taken action to make it clear to the public how Tsunami aid flows have been used.

We are taking action to overcome corruption. We are supporting Government initiatives. We are also backing committed Indonesians working to reform areas like the justice sector.

I am looking forward to visiting Aceh to see for myself the progress on reconstruction that has been made since the dreadful Tsunami on 26 December last year, and to explore how the British Government can be of further assistance. Our efforts need to be seen in the context of the fact that Aceh has been affected by conflict.”

BIOGRAPHY OF GARETH THOMAS MP

Gareth Thomas, was educated at Hatch End High School, Lowlands College before studying Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth; an MA in Imperial and Commonwealth Studies at Kings College, London and a PGCE at the University of Greenwich.