Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ended Wednesday his temporary relocation of the presidential office to Yogyakarta after five days spent monitoring relief efforts from Saturday's earthquake.
Although some criticized the move as unnecessary and impulsive, the President said relocating to Gedung Agung state palace allowed for the efficient handling of state duties in the quake's aftermath.
""I continued to assume my duties as the President, head of state and head of government. From the beginning, I said there was no need to apply protocol arrangements here. Governors and other state officials should not necessarily accompany me,"" the President was quoted as saying by Kompas daily Tuesday.
During visits to temporary shelters for displaced people, hospitals and Prambanan temple, he was not accompanied by Yogyakarta Governor Hamengku Buwono X, Bantul Regent Idham Samawi, Yogyakarta Mayor Herry Zudianto and other regional officials.
He had justified the move to the building -- strategically located at the end of Jl. Malioboro thoroughfare -- to enable him to better work and serve people affected by the disaster.
His entourage included First Lady Kristiani Herawati, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo, Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa and Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.
Yudhoyono told reporters his presidential duties ran smoothly and did not disrupt the regional administration.
""I executed my duties in the framework of policy. What we can do to help from the central administration is international cooperation. That's why foreign assistance is trickling in,"" he said.
""Problems with regard to evacuees, logistical supplies and medical treatment are entrusted to the governors and their subordinates. I want them to work properly without necessarily disturbing each other.""
The President and the First Lady visited the damaged temples of Garuda, Brahma and Wisnu at Prambanan temple compound.
""Don't open the temple complex to the public at the moment because it is dangerous to visitors. There are cracks and if there are minor shocks, they could easily fall over,"" he said.
He also urged the administrator of the complex to make a detailed inventory of necessary repairs, but cautioned that any renovation must not change the temple's original form.
The President and his entourage then went to an evacuee center at Ngangkro village, about 400 meters from the temple. Kristiani spoke with elementary school students whose school was destroyed in the quake.
The President also inspected Yogyakarta's Adi Sucipto Airport, which suffered considerable damage to buildings and its runway but reopened Monday.
Yudhoyono also spoke by phone with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday evening, according to presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal.
""Kofi Annan appreciated the steps taken by the Indonesian government and expressed confidence Indonesia would be able to handle the problem after having a similar experience in handling the much bigger tsunami disaster in Aceh,"" Dino said.
