USK Hold A Seminar to Discuss Archive as the Source of Knowledge
Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) and Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC), in collaboration with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) and Aceh Government, successfully hold a Seminar to commemorate the Aceh Tsunami 17th Commemoration Week by online and offline at the AAC Dayan Dawood Building, Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
The seminar took the theme “Empowering Lesson Learned from Indian Ocean Tsunami”, and presented outstanding speakers, Osamu Fujisawa, Deputy Director of Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum Japan, Sebastien Penmellen Boret and Akihiro Shibayama, Associate Professors, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University Japan, M. Nasir Djamil, S.Ag., M.Si, member of Commission III of the DPR RI, Mohammad Anggidigdo, the Coordinator of the Aceh Prosecutor’s Office, represented the Head of the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office, Kompol M Husin, the Head of Minopsnal Bagbinopsnal Ditreskrimum Aceh Polda, represented the Aceh Police Chief, and Dr. Alfi Rahman, research expert of TDMRC USK.
The Vice-rector of USK, Prof. Dr. Marwan, in his speech stated that the tsunami happened in Aceh is the most “international” natural disaster in history because of its geographical scope and impacts. That is why disaster archives are vital, moreover, the concept of a tsunami archive has not been initiated yet.
He also added, “archives and various relics of the Aceh tsunami disaster can be investigated in various forms, such as through the inherited ethnography of culture, both tangible and intangible”.
“Therefore, Universitas Syiah Kuala university indicates the existence of archives, records, and various relics as materials for recent and further study, with an expectation they can be used as a lesson and education for communities, to make them better prepared in facing the possible disaster in the future”, Prof. Marwan closed.
The Head of the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia, Imam Gunarto, in his speech said that the Aceh Tsunami 17th Commemoration Week seminar was necessary because many things can be learned. These archives can be used as a source of knowledge, moreover the Tsunami archive is currently recognized by UNESCO as the Memory of the World.
“The tsunami archives keep a lot of information about post-tsunami development, not only about infrastructure development but also social, economic, cultural, religious development, early warning systems and technology related to disasters. For this reason, tsunami archives can be used as a reference source of knowledge”, said Imam Gunarto.
On that occasion, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in his speech via video said that the earthquake and tsunami that happened in Aceh have opened our eyes to the importance of early warning system technology. However, he believes that the early warning system alone is not enough. Reflecting on the Mount Semeru disaster, even though there was an early warning, it still caused many casualties.
That is why Sandiaga Uno strongly supported the seminars on tsunami. He determined that this kind of prevention and mitigation efforts are needed to be continuously improved, not only in terms of updating technology but also in building a culture of preparedness through solid coordination, both from the government and elements of society.
Sebastien Penmellen Boret delivered “the collaboration between Tohoku University and Universitas Syiah Kuala has formed since a long time ago. We had the chances to visit the university several times and met the university academicians to discuss the tsunami archives. I do hope we can make this collaboration becomes stronger among the universities, ANRI, TDMRC, and Aceh Government since it is important between Indonesia and Japan to make a collaboration to share tsunami and disaster experiences”.
“Tsunami archives is very important for Tohoku University because it provides information for us. Unfortunately, humans are good at many things but also good at forgetting too. We do not want to forget disaster anymore, we want to learn and take the lesson to save lives and communities, and build the communities stronger every time. Tsunami Archives are basis and the strong pillar for tsunami awareness, preparation, and resilience”, he added.
Regarding seminar which was led by Yarmen Dinamika, it discussed the importance of archives as a source of knowledge, especially tsunami archives that recognized can be used as research references for disaster mitigation and education for the community, as well as a reference in the fields of law, politics, and research.
Besides, the seminar recognized its need to strengthen the cooperation between Tohoku University Japan, Universitas Syiah Kuala, and the Indonesian National Archives to boost the use of archives as research reference sources, including collaboration with the Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum.
