ACEH PEOPLE COMMEMORATE JAPANESE TSUNAMI

Banda Aceh, Aceh, March 12 (Antara) - The Islamic School Ruhul Islam Anak Bangsain in Aceh Besar District of Aceh Province commemorated the fourth anniversary of the Japanese tsunami disaster by organizing a mass prayer service. The joint prayer service was hosted by the school in cooperation with the Japan-Indonesia Friendship Forum and was attended by the students in the school's auditorium on Wednesday (Mar. 11). Deputy Mayor of Aceh Besar District Syamsulrizal attended the event. "After the tsunami occurred in Aceh, the Japanese people and government sent a lot of assistance to Aceh, particularly to Aceh Besar area," Syamsulrizal recalled. The Acehnese people are mourning for the victims of the Japanese tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011. "We are very grateful for the assistance provided by the Japanese people for the victims of the tsunami that struck Aceh on December 26, 2004. We also offer our support and prayers for the revival of the victims of the Japanese tsunami," deputy mayor noted. Two Japanese students Moe Uchida and Ai Maruyama expressed their appreciation for the concern shown by the Acehnese people for the victims of the Japanese tsunami. Uchida and Maruyama hoped that the cooperation between Indonesia and Japan can continue in future. "We are very grateful to the Acehnese children and people," Uchida said. An exhibition of flying kites and handicrafts made by the students of Miyato Jima Elementary School in Miyagi Ken was the highlight of the one-day event. "Praise God that we can always hold this event. Even the Acehnese children have been invited to Japan to offer motivation and to observe the damage and development after the tsunami occurred," School Head Master Fauzuldin noted.(*)