President wants immediate settlement of Lapindo victims` compensation

Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked for the immediate settlement of the problem of compesation payments to Lapindo Brantas mudflow victims in Sidoarjo, East Java, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Monday.

"The president has asked that the problem of compensation payments to the mudflow victims be solved soon," the minister said at the presidential office before attending a cabinet meeting on the revised 2007 state budget.<>

Purnomo said a number of representatives of the mudflow victims met with President Yudhoyono at the latter`s private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, on Sunday and they had reported that although many of them had already completed all the required documents, they had still not received the promised compensation.

"We discussed the compenation problem with the district heads, social deputy of Sidoarjo Mud Management Board (BPLS) and Lapindo officialss overnight," Purnomo was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

During the discussion, the minister learned that our of 522 officially registered mudflow victim families, only 303 had so far received compensation while the remaining 219 had not because of a Building Permit (IMB) problem.

"IMBs should be obtained from the district head while the compensatio payments will be handled by the BPLS and Lapindo," he said, adding that several things still had to be adjusted in the field. (dar)