Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, the chief of the Indonesian REDD+ task force and head of the agency overseeing the post-tsunami recovery in Aceh, was awarded a Norwegian order of merit on Wednesday in Jakarta.
Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia Stig Traavic presented the award, the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit — Commander with Star, to Kuntoro for his “outstanding service in the interests of Norway” and his “commendable work for humanity,” especially in leading the reconstruction and rehabilitation of post-tsunami Aceh.
“He has shown outstanding leadership as minister for the UKP4 [President’s Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight] and as head of the Indonesian REDD+ Task Force,” Traavic said before presenting the honor.
Kuntoro said he was truly humbled by the honor.
“I am a simple man, I am a true believer in public service,” he said.
Kuntoro led the Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) that rebuilt Aceh and Nias after the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 devastated vast swaths of the region and killed an estimated 170,000 people there.
The BRR was established in April 2005 and disbanded four years later.
The Royal Order of Merit was established by Norway’s King Olave V in 1985.
