Sidoarjo, NU Online
The members of newly established Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency visited the site of the disaster for the first time Friday, where they were met by residents demanding an end to the situation.
In a meeting with the agency, Kedungbendo subdistrict head Hasan said the company at the center of the disaster, Lapindo Brantas Inc., was not serious about its promise to compensate the victims.<>
"None of our residents has received compensation yet. Lapindo is powerful, good at dodging and tricking victims. Even the government seems have no guts in its face," said Hasan.
Mudflow victim Sumitro accused Lapindo of tricking not just the victims but also the government and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"If we're going to be given cash compensation, there is no reason why Lapindo should only pay 20 percent in advance and the rest later. And we haven't even got the 20 percent compensation yet," Sumitro said.
Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency chairman Maj. Gen. (ret.) Sunarso promised the residents that the agency would push Lapindo to immediately pay the compensation.
He also promised that the agency would not use a military approach in dealing with mudflow victims' protests.
"Although I'm a former soldier, I will be professional. I have no connection with Bakrie's family. I was in touch with Bakrie's bosses only after coming to Sidoarjo, I swear, and I just finished praying," the former commander of Diponegoro Military Command overseeing Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces told journalists after Friday prayers.
"I'll use my own way to ask Lapindo. Don't fear me since I'm a kampong person who started out at the bottom myself. I know the people's suffering," he said.
The East Java gas block, where the mudflow began in May last year in a botched gas exploration well, is 50 percent owned by Lapindo Brantas, 18 percent by Australian firm Santos and 32 percent by the Prakarsa group. Lapindo Brantas' parent company is PT Energi Mega Persada, which is linked to the Bakrie Group.
Sunarso said he would keep members from the original national mudflow mitigation team, the mandate of which ended on April 8, to help deal with the problem. Their ongoing projects, such as the use of concrete balls to stem the mudflow, will be continued.
The executive chairman of the national team, Basuki Hadimulyono, said he would assist the new agency and has recommended that it prioritize victim compensation.
"Personally, I don't feel relieved that I no longer responsible for the mudflow. I'll monitor the situation from a distance. The national team is ready to be audited financially since I took not a cent of money," he told The Jakarta Post.
Sidoarjo Regent Win Hendarso said he felt the agency would be able to deal with the disaster because it had greater financial backing than the first team.
"The national team's money came from Lapindo, but the agency's budget comes from Lapindo and the state budget," he said.
Lapindo's vice president of human resources and public relations, Yuniwati Teryana, said the company would follow the decisions of the government and the President. (tjp/dar)
The members of newly established Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency visited the site of the disaster for the first time Friday, where they were met by residents demanding an end to the situation.
In a meeting with the agency, Kedungbendo subdistrict head Hasan said the company at the center of the disaster, Lapindo Brantas Inc., was not serious about its promise to compensate the victims.<>
"None of our residents has received compensation yet. Lapindo is powerful, good at dodging and tricking victims. Even the government seems have no guts in its face," said Hasan.
Mudflow victim Sumitro accused Lapindo of tricking not just the victims but also the government and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"If we're going to be given cash compensation, there is no reason why Lapindo should only pay 20 percent in advance and the rest later. And we haven't even got the 20 percent compensation yet," Sumitro said.
Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency chairman Maj. Gen. (ret.) Sunarso promised the residents that the agency would push Lapindo to immediately pay the compensation.
He also promised that the agency would not use a military approach in dealing with mudflow victims' protests.
"Although I'm a former soldier, I will be professional. I have no connection with Bakrie's family. I was in touch with Bakrie's bosses only after coming to Sidoarjo, I swear, and I just finished praying," the former commander of Diponegoro Military Command overseeing Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces told journalists after Friday prayers.
"I'll use my own way to ask Lapindo. Don't fear me since I'm a kampong person who started out at the bottom myself. I know the people's suffering," he said.
The East Java gas block, where the mudflow began in May last year in a botched gas exploration well, is 50 percent owned by Lapindo Brantas, 18 percent by Australian firm Santos and 32 percent by the Prakarsa group. Lapindo Brantas' parent company is PT Energi Mega Persada, which is linked to the Bakrie Group.
Sunarso said he would keep members from the original national mudflow mitigation team, the mandate of which ended on April 8, to help deal with the problem. Their ongoing projects, such as the use of concrete balls to stem the mudflow, will be continued.
The executive chairman of the national team, Basuki Hadimulyono, said he would assist the new agency and has recommended that it prioritize victim compensation.
"Personally, I don't feel relieved that I no longer responsible for the mudflow. I'll monitor the situation from a distance. The national team is ready to be audited financially since I took not a cent of money," he told The Jakarta Post.
Sidoarjo Regent Win Hendarso said he felt the agency would be able to deal with the disaster because it had greater financial backing than the first team.
"The national team's money came from Lapindo, but the agency's budget comes from Lapindo and the state budget," he said.
Lapindo's vice president of human resources and public relations, Yuniwati Teryana, said the company would follow the decisions of the government and the President. (tjp/dar)
