A three-day exhibition on earthquake management technology marked the Friday launch of a series of events and programs to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the devastating May 27 Java earthquake, writes Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta, National News - May 26, 2007 at http://www.thejakartapost.com/.
Forwarded by Budhi Mulyawan 290507.

Organized by the national technical team for post-quake rehabilitation and reconstruction in Yogyakarta and Central Java, the exhibition in Yogyakarta was opened by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono.

Attending the opening were Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwo X and Central Java Governor Mardiyanto.

Nearly 80 government institutions, non-government organizations and private sector companies are taking part in the exhibition.

Displayed materials include information on disaster management technology, government policies regarding disaster handling and prevention, earthquake-resistant buildings and goods produced by small and medium enterprises.

Boediono said the exhibition showcased some of the work being done to rebuild quake-hit areas by using the best available knowledge and know-how, while accommodating local knowledge and innovations.

"Our experiences in Yogyakarta and Central Java hopefully will not just be a valuable lesson for dealing with disasters in Indonesia, but anywhere in the world," Boediono said.

He said Indonesia has won international recognition for its reconstruction efforts in Yogyakarta and Central Java, particularly in terms of housing.

"(It) has been acknowledged as the quickest and biggest reconstruction effort for houses in the world," said Boediono, who also chairs the national steering team for post-quake work in Yogyakarta and Central Java.

The powerful quake killed nearly 6,000 people, injured more than 50,000 and displaced more than 1.5 million others. More than 300,000 houses were destroyed in the disaster, with Bantul regency in Yogyakarta and Klaten in Central Java suffering the worst of the damage.

Overall damage estimates reached US$3.1 billion, making it the third most costly natural disaster in the developing world after the Aceh tsunami, with damages of $4.7 billion, and an earthquake in Turkey ($10.3 billion).

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled on Saturday to oversee the reopening of several rebuilt houses and schools in the provinces, and to launch a book titled Belajar dari Pengalaman Membangun Daerah Rawan Bencana (Learning from Experience in Building in Disaster-Prone Regions) at Prambanan Temple.

A series of workshops and seminars on disaster management, post-disaster reconstruction and the role of donors and service providers also are scheduled for the weekend.

The commemoration will peak with an event called Reflection, which is scheduled to begin Saturday at 9 p.m. and last until 7 a.m. on Sunday. There will be various cultural and musical performances presented during the event.

Then, on Sunday morning, at the same time the quake struck one year ago, there will be a moment of silence and prayers.

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