[Kabar-indonesia] 4 Reports: An Angry, Sad Independence Day for Mudflow, Quake Victims

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

also: 3 JP reports: Sidoardjo mud control embankment collapses 
Sadness shrouds Aug. 17 events for quake survivors; and Unicef 
promoting breast-feeding among Java earthquake survivors 

The Jakarta Post
Friday, August 18, 2006

It's An Angry, Muddy Independence Day in Sidoarjo 

Riyadi Suparno, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo, East Java

Entering the 80th day of the mudflow calamity in East Java on Independence 
Day on Thursday, anger has become so great that it could explode anytime -- 
unless those involved in creating the disaster, especially Lapindo Brantas Inc., a 
company linked to the Bakrie family, do not afford some sort of certainty to 
the victims regarding what is to become of them.

Their anger takes many forms, from demonstrations, and communal fights to 
anything else that can serve to channel their frustration, like breaching the 
walls of the huge dikes holding back the mud. 

The sludge now covers at least 180 hectares and has submerged entire 
neighborhoods, homes and schools, and effectively closed the Sidoarjo-Surabaya 
expressway. 

With each day, the protests are getting increasingly out of hand. On 
Wednesday, hundreds of people from three affected villages -- Siring, Jatirejo and 
Renokenongo -- staged a rowdy demonstration by blocking the main Porong road and 
the railway line linking Surabaya and the eastern parts of East Java. This, of 
course, led to massive traffic jams and train delays. Some people even lay 
down on the tracks and refused to budge. 

They desisted only after their representatives were invited to present their 
demands at a meeting with representatives of Lapindo and the Sidoarjo 
administration at the town hall. They demanded compensation for their properties 
submerged by the hot mud. Lapindo agreed and said it would appoint another firm to 
handle the technicalities. 

The day before, enraged victims from two villages, Renokenongo and Besuki, 
emerged from their homes and displaced persons' camps bent on attacking each 
other after a dike was breached near Renokenongo village -- this occurred after 
the Besuki people closed a tunnel channeling the mud in their direction. 

Luckily a skirmish was prevented after the sludge was diverted away toward an 
uninhabited area in the eastern part of a huge storage ponds. But many 
villagers still came down to the expressway to stop dump trucks carrying stones and 
sand for the dikes, and ordered the trucks to their villages instead. Their 
action once again caused massive traffic jams. 

Although we have only seen scuffles between locals and the authorities, the 
possibility of communal fights remains as the victims in each village remain 
suspicious of the people in neighboring villages. Everybody is suspicious that 
everyone else is receiving special treatment from Lapindo, while they 
themselves are getting nothing. 

Suspicion is also high that some unscrupulous people and organizations are 
using the victims' plight for their own ends by also seeking Lapindo money. This 
could explain why a crowd attacked and collapsed a big tent serving as an aid 
post staffed by mostly former officers of the Muslim organization Nahdlatul 
Ulama. 

As soon as you enter Porong market, which now houses a number of the victims, 
you immediately sense the rage. Lapindo stands accused of causing all the 
misery -- and also the government, which is seen as siding with the company. 

Although there is as yet no conclusive opinion regarding the cause of the 
massive mudflow, most agree that it is the result of Lapindo drilling in the 
area. Therefore, Lapindo is held responsible by many, including the government. 

Because of this assumption, both the central government and local 
administrations refuse to dip into their pockets to help the victims, who have been 
living in misery in the market for more than two months. Instead, the 
administrations, and also the military, are using Lapindo money to finance their operations 
in the area. 

This policy of not spending government money may be why President Susilo 
Bambang Yudhoyono brought Rp 1 billion (about US$110,000), which it is claimed 
came out of his own pocket, to help the victims during his recent visit to the 
scene. No one knows, however, whether this Rp 1 billion really came from the 
President himself or from somebody else. 

It seems now that everyone is putting all the blame and responsibility on 
Lapindo, which is reasonable enough. However, doing so only prolongs this 
man-made humanitarian calamity. 

On the other hand, Lapindo itself seems to listen more to the authorities, 
political heavyweights and others of influence than to the victims themselves. 
Lapindo is suspected of having spent more money on mollifying important people 
than the victims. 

Affected residents, for example, have demanded that Lapindo purchase their 
mud-submerged properties at reasonable prices. While Lapindo says it is willing 
to meet this demand, it has also incensed locals who say that the rent 
allowance provided by the company is far from enough. 

Lapindo is offering each family Rp 2.5 million to rent a house, Rp 500,000 to 
move to the rented house and an allowance of Rp 300,000 per person per month. 

However, to get this assistance, it is not enough for each family to sign a 
receipt; they also have to sign an agreement that they say is unfair. One term, 
for example, says that any damage to property inside their homes must be 
borne by the owners, not Lapindo, and, even worse, that the signatories shall 
refrain from bringing legal action against Lapindo in the future. 

Many have refused to sign the agreements. After all, they are not stupid. 
They can name those persons and organizations which they say really support them, 
and those that do not. 

They can even name the media outlets -- newspapers, radio and TV stations -- 
that side with them and those they suspect of having been bribed by Lapindo to 
give the company a favorable slant in their coverage. 

Therefore Lapindo, and also the authorities, need to place the interests of 
the victims above all others. The company should use everything at its disposal 
to help the victims and stop the mudflow. 

The government must decide quickly on the future of both the victims and the 
mud -- which experts say could reach 4 million cubic meters by the end of this 
month. 

In fact, the victims are not demanding much. It is basic certainty they want: 
certainty that they will receive proper compensation for their property; that 
they can resume working, and that they have a future. 

----------------------------------------------

The Jakarta Post
Friday, August 18, 2006

Sidoardjo mud control embankment collapses 

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo

A embankment functioning to retain hot mud gushing from the troubled Lapindo 
Brantas Inc. gas mine in Porong district, Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed 
Wednesday, but no casualties were reported in the incident.

The incident occurred at around 3:30 p.m. local time, when Major Arry Sundoro 
from the Sidoarjo military command and his men were preparing for a 
thanksgiving event with village communities to mark the country's 61st anniversary of 
the declaration of independence. 

"All of a sudden we heard people screaming that the pond's embankment had 
broken and moments later water mixed with mud came gushing out flooding people's 
homes," Arry told The Jakarta Post , adding that they had to relocate the 
event due to the incident. 

Three of the eight temporary holding ponds designed to help control the flow 
of mud have broken since May 29. A pond in Jatirejo village, with a capacity 
of around 60,000 cubic meters, was breached on Aug. 10 forcing around 5,000 
residents to flee to safer areas. A similar incident took place in Jatianom 
village, where two ponds with a total capacity of 185,000 cu.m. gave way. 

Jatianom is only one kilometer from the first pond that collapsed. 

Thousands of houses were inundated with mud, a number of them even up to 
their roofs. At least 2,000 people took refuge at Pasar Baru Porong market, 
increasing the number of evacuees staying there to around 11,000 people. Most of 
them had already taken refuge there a few days before the incident. 

Only around 50 people decided to remain in their homes during the incident, 
making the evacuation easier. 

The coordinator of the volunteer evacuation group, Ibrahim, said that 
residents had been constantly reminded to evacuate due to the ever increasing level 
of mud in the pond a few days before it broke, but they refused, on the grounds 
that they had not yet received compensation from Lapindo Brantas Inc. 

"I even went as far as to sell the idea to them like a salesman offering 
merchandise, but they were adamant about staying put," said Ibrahim. 

Spokesperson for the team of experts from the 10th November Surabaya 
Institute of Technology (ITS), Noor Endah, urged that residents be immediately 
evacuated by whatever means possible to a safer place keeping in mind the rising 
level of mud. 

The ITS has disclosed that a safe level is two meters, but it has increased 
to more than five meters now, rising 2.5 centimeters daily, due to the mud 
debit of around 50,000 cu.m. per day. 

The volume could reach 7 million cu.m. or the equivalent of 1.4 million 
trucks of mud in the next three months, according to ITS. 

In the meantime, Sidoarjo Deputy Regent Saiful Illah said that his office was 
making efforts to urge residents to leave their homes as soon as possible. 

"Even though it would be a difficult task to evacuate them, we are trying 
hard for the sake of their safety in compliance with the President's directive 
during his visit here a few weeks ago," he said, referring to directive given by 
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. 

In spite of the precarious condition of the pond, the gas exploration company 
is still raising the pond's embankment with sand, which is at a height of 
five meters now. 

------------------------------------------------

The Jakarta Post
Friday, August 18, 2006

Sadness shrouds Aug. 17 events 

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There was little cheer on Independence Day in disaster-hit areas across the 
country, with survivors too burdened by the problem of rebuilding their lives 
to engage in the usual fun and games Thursday. 

Even the annual canopy of red-and-white national flags was conspicuously 
missing from many areas, with residents saying there were better uses for their 
limited funds. 

Teenager Saryono was among those who sat out the commemoration in Klaten, 
Central Java, which was devastated by a May 27 earthquake. 

After attending a flag-hoisting ceremony at his school, he played 
hide-and-seek with his friends in the rubble of a residential complex. 

"Here there aren't any competitions in conjunction with the Independence Day 
celebration, including for children. We're still gripped by a gloomy mood," 
coordinator of a local volunteer command post Ari Sarjoko told The Jakarta Post. 

"We couldn't think about holding competitions. The residents were even unable 
to hoist flags," he said. 

"Our belongings have all been destroyed. Rather than using our money to buy 
new flags, it's better for us to buy our daily needs." 

Sarjoko denied residents deliberately avoided any celebration because they 
were angry at the government's failure to provide promised cash assistance. 

"We aren't angry. We didn't hoist flags because we don't have any," he said. 

In Bantul, Yogyakarta, quake survivors also chose to keep the celebration 
subdued, with a simple joint prayer on Aug. 16 intended to help them rise above 
the tragedy. 

"We just held a joint prayer to safeguard our village from further 
disasters," said Sarjiman, a resident of Soge Sanden hamlet in Sanden district. 

He added that residents believed it would be more worthwhile to pool their 
funds for the neediest survivors than spend them on games. 

"How can we arbitrarily spend money for the celebration at a time when most 
of our neighbors live in tents?" 

In Ciamis, West Java, thousands of survivors of the July 17 tsunami that 
ravaged Pangandaran beach marked the day with celebrations, but many others 
remained too traumatized to participate. 

The liveliest celebration was held at Wonoharjo evacuee center, now 
sheltering about 200 displaced families. Teams vied for a host of prizes, ranging from 
boxes of instant noodles, pairs of sandals to kerosene stoves, that were hung 
on two poles. 

"I'm happy with the celebration but not completely. I still want to have my 
own house. I'm bored living at the evacuee center...it's hot here," said Aan 
Anita from Bulak Laut village. 

But the day passed somberly at nearby Cikembulan evacuee center. Members of 
the 130 families at the center played traditional instruments to mark the day, 
but did not arrange games. 

In Jayapura, Papua, about 200 residents of remote Tanah Batu in Tanjung Ria 
village, North Jayapura district, joined the celebration for the first time 
Thursday. 

With the sponsorship of a Jayapura-based businessman, various competitions 
were held in Tanah Batu. 

Despite its location only six kilometers from Jayapura, it still does not 
have electricity or a passable road. Visitors must trek two kilometers from the 
nearest road to reach the village. 

"We just want the government to build us bridges and provide electricity," 
said village elder Kima Wanimbo. 

"We just took part in the celebration for the first time because previously 
we could act only as onlookers," said youth Yohanes Waker. 

In Ambon, Maluku, national flags were in evidence throughout the city, once 
wracked by sectarian strife, draped from residences, cars and even motorbikes. 

There also was hope for the future as Christians and Muslims have begun 
associating with each other again. The former rigid religious divisions for 
frequenting shopping centers, bus terminals and other public places have disappeared. 

Maluku Protestant Church Synod leader Rev. Jhon Ruhulessin said the 
restoration of peace in the area displayed the commitment to nationalism of locals. 

"We cannot build Maluku's future if we lost our nationalism," he said after 
attending a ceremony at Merdeka square in Ambon. 

Idrus Toekan, head of the Maluku chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council, 
lauded the regaining of communal togetherness. "It's the duty of all of us to use 
the Independence Day celebration to improve our unity and brotherhood," he 
added. 

-------------------------------------------

The Jakarta Post
Friday, August 18, 2006

Unicef promoting breast-feeding among Java earthquake survivors 

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Hoping to prevent an increase in the infant mortality rate in Yogyakarta and 
Central Java's earthquake-hit areas, the United Nations Children's Fund 
(Unicef) is providing breast-feeding counseling to residents of the worst affected 
regions.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a seminar on breast milk and 
its substitutes held here recently, Unicef nutrition project officer Anna 
Winoto said the course was part of a nationwide program involving 14 provinces 
throughout Indonesia. 

Recent surveys have shown an increase in the use of breast milk substitutes 
in the worst quake affected regions of Bantul in Yogyakarta and Klaten in 
Central Java, prompting Unicef to start the program in those areas. 

The increase in the use of substitutes was sparked by the large amounts of 
logistic aid provided by donors. 

"The surveys show that the use of breast milk substitutes in both regions has 
doubled among babies under two years of age since the earthquakes," said 
Anna. 

She said that feeding children breast milk substitutes in emergency 
situations was dangerous because of the lack of clean water and fuel needed to prepare 
the milk hygienically. 

"The rise (in the use of substitutes) has increased the prevalence of 
diarrhea by six times among infants in (Bantul and Klaten)," said Anna, adding that 
there was an urgent need for a nationwide breast-feeding consulting program. 

She said that consulting had proved effective in increasing the number of 
mothers providing their babies exclusively with breast milk in their first six 
months of life. She added that a study had said that exclusive breast-feeding 
was the most effective mode of preventing high infant mortality rates. 

Utami Roesli of the Indonesian Breast-feeding Center, which is organizing 
Unicef's breast-feeding course here, said the course would involve 72 villages in 
the two regencies. 

"We have sent our 12 first line consultants for the course. Each is 
overseeing six village and each village will be required to send six women to be 
trained as breast-feeding consultants through the course," Utami said. 

The 40-hour course, which began on Aug. 14 and is scheduled to finish on 
Sept. 24, was designed by Unicef and the World Health Organization, Utami said. 

Upon finishing the course, each of the 432 women who took part will be 
required to pass their knowledge on to five breast-feeding mothers, who in turn are 
required to disseminate their knowledge to at least two other mothers in their 
neighborhoods. 

"So by the end of the program, at least 6,480 mothers are expected to know 
about the importance of providing exclusive breast-feeding for the first six 
months and continuing breast-feeding and providing healthy additional baby food 
until the child is two years of age," Utami said. 

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