Jakarta Globe, Markus Junianto Sihaloho, October 24, 2012
A Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency (BPLS) officer at the mudflow in 2011. (AFP Photo) |
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The 2013
State Budget passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday suggests that
the government will continue to give money to victims of the 2006 mudflow in
Sidoarjo, East Java, despite claims that it was the responsibility of private
company Lapindo Brantas.
It is
uncertain what the final figure is but the government earlier proposed that Rp
2.26 trillion ($235 million) from state coffers be earmarked to the Sidoarjo
Mudflow Mitigation Agency (BPLS), an ad hoc agency created to contain the
mudflow and handle the victims relocation scheme.
Some of the
funds, the government proposal says, will be used to purchase land and
buildings outside the areas immediately affected by the mudflow, located in the
villages of Besuki, Kedungcangkring and Pejarakan, and nine communities spread
around the wards of Siring, Jatirejo and Mindi.
The funds
will also be used to relocate residents in 65 community units spread across
nine wards and villages, which the government says are all outside of the
affected zones.
Money is
also earmarked to “rescue the economic and social life” of the community around
the impacted area while some funds are directed at efforts to further contain
the flow of mud.
The
government has already spent Rp 3.26 trillion on the BPLS and this year
earmarked another Rp 1.6 trillion.
While
refusing to acknowledge that the mudflow was a direct result of its gas
drilling activities, Lapindo has agreed to compensate and acquire the land
immediately impacted by the disaster.
But Public
Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said in June that Lapindo, a resources company
owned by the family of businessman and presidential hopeful Aburizal Bakrie,
has only paid Rp 2.9 trillion in compensation out of the Rp 3.8 trillion it was
ordered to pay.
House of
Representatives Deputy Speaker Anis Matta, who led the plenary session at which
the House approved next year’s state budget, refused to comment on why the
state is earmarking more money to the disaster.
“Try asking
related House commission leaders,” he said.
Opinions
are split on the cause of the incident. Many say it was caused by the drilling
activities of Lapindo. But the company blamed an earthquake in Yogyakarta,
hundreds of kilometers to the east.
On Aug. 15,
the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) made three recommendations
linked to the mud volcano.
Komnas HAM
recommended the company complete the purchase of land and buildings now covered
by the mudflow; the police find out where responsibility for the incident lies;
and the government assist victims through revised regulations.
The
incident destroyed hundreds of homes, swamped 720 hectares of land and
displaced thousands of people.
Delays in
compensation payments have damaged public support for Aburizal, who on July 1
announced his bid for presidency under the Golkar Party banner.
Lalu Mara
Satriawangsa, a Bakrie family spokesman, said the Bakries had set aside a large
sum of money for compensation. There is speculation that Aburizal will wait
until just before the 2014 election to pay, in an effort to boost his electoral
prospects.
Related Articles:
Residents hope govt will fulfil Lapindo compensation promise
Boediono Wants Lapindo Disaster Area for 'Nature Recreation'
Lapindo Told to Shell Out For Mudflow Before Drilling Again
Lapindo Disaster Caused By Human Error: Study
Indonesia's mud volcano flows on
Residents hope govt will fulfil Lapindo compensation promise
Boediono Wants Lapindo Disaster Area for 'Nature Recreation'
Lapindo Told to Shell Out For Mudflow Before Drilling Again
Lapindo Disaster Caused By Human Error: Study
Indonesia's mud volcano flows on
Satellite
picture received from Ikonos Satellite Image on May 29, 2008 shows
the mud
volcano and its surrounding area in Sidoarjo, East Java. (AFP/Ikonos
Satellite Image)
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