House knocks back new mudflow report

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta ,  Sidoarjo   |  Wed, 02/20/2008 1:19 PM  |  Headlines

The House of Representatives unanimously dismissed Tuesday a report from its own special team concluding that the devastating mudflow in East Java was a natural phenomenon.

The report apparently sided with Lapindo Brantas Inc., widely blamed for the disaster that began on May 29, 2006, lawmakers told a plenary meeting on the mudflow.

"The report seems to have been written by Lapindo's public affairs division," legislator Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said.

He said the report clearly defended Lapindo, linked to the family of chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie, since it failed to cite the role of Lapindo in causing the mudflow in Sidoarjo regency.

The plenary session created confusion over whether it had also decided to continue with the House's plan to question senior officials, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, about the government's commitment to victims of the disaster.

House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, who presided over the session, confirmed the plan.

However, some members of the special team held a press conference shortly after the plenary session to say the meeting concluded that the team had to continue its investigation.

"We have already clarified this with Mbah Tardjo (Soetardjo) and what he decided was to prolong this team's work," said Priyo Budi Santoso, a Golkar Party legislator with the team.

Permadi said if the special team failed to complete its task to the satisfaction of the House, it would be followed with a plan to summons the government.

"The team must be disbanded and the House will continue with the interpellation plan," Permadi added.

Last September a number of lawmakers proposed the House use its right to summon President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to explain the matter.

But the House could not reach an agreement on the issue and instead decided to establish a special team to examine the government's effort to handle the mudflow and its impacts.

Team member Tjahjo Kumulo, who read out the report during Tuesday's plenary meeting, said the House had no authority to determine whether the mudflow was natural or man-made.

"That is the expert's authority," said Tjahjo, who is also from the PDI-P faction.

Despite this statement however, the report repeatedly cited information supporting the theory that the mudflow was an "uncontrollable natural disaster".

It quoted geologists as saying the mudflow was caused by an underground mud volcano that had nothing to do with human activities.

The report also cited the South Jakarta District Court's verdict that ruled the mudflow was a purely natural phenomenon.

Dradjad Wibowo of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said such a report might have budget implications for the state.

"If the disaster is perceived as a natural phenomenon, PT Lapindo may use that to sue the government to return all Rp 1.3 trillion they have disbursed for the victims," he said.

In Sidoarjo, some 3,000 victims of the mudflow were angered by the team's conclusion and took to the streets to protest.

They barricaded the Porong highway and railway tracks next to the mud volcano site, triggering heavy traffic.

The protesters, from five badly affected hamlets, demanded that Lapindo Brantas pay them compensation as soon as possible. (alf)

ID Nugroho contributed to this story from Sidoarjo

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