Thousands of mudflow victims stage rally

Thousands of mudflow victims from various villages in Sidoarjo, East Java, staged a rally at the mudflow site demanding payment for their damaged land and properties.

The victims said they had only received 20 percent of the compensation money promised by Lapindo Brantas, a company indirectly controlled by the Bakrie family.

They now demand the company pay the remaining 80 percent.

"Our housing rent is running out. So far we don't know when they will pay the remaining (80 percent)," Basuki Abdullah, one of the rally's coordinators, told Tempointeraktif.com.

The protesters blocked access to the main mudflow area by erecting a bamboo fence, with various posters all around.

One of the protesters said, "This land still belongs to us. Whoever builds a mud dams here, needs our permission."

Another said, "The BPLS (Sidoarjo Mud Mitigation Agency) is only a toothless tiger, whose policies only follow Lapindo's wishes.

"The protesters also erected a number of tents on some of the mud dams, and used several sound systems to air their demands.

The rally effectively halted BPLS's operations at the site, but did not disrupt traffic on the nearby main road. (rid)