UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos is not one to mince words. Amos, 58, spoke with Tempo journalists for nearly one hour at the UN offices in Jakarta last Wednesday, pointing out that diplomacy was a power that should not be underestimated, especially when negotiating access for aid agencies to supply food, water and medical aid to civilians in war-torn regions.

Amos visited Indonesia last week along with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and launc