Lapindo mudflow victims stage protest

Hundreds of Lapindo mudflow victims from West Siring village, East Java staged protest on Monday before the office of East Java governor, demanding compensation for their losses.

"In the previous meeting [on June 4], the Governor promised us that he will urge the central government to give us compensation. But it's an empty promise," Susatyo, the coordinator of the demonstration, said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Bambang Kuswanto, another protester, said the demonstrator houses condition were no longer proper to live as there were many cracks in the wall due to land movement.

"We are scared," he said.

The protesters demanded a compensation Rp 1.5 million (US$160) per meter square for buildings and Rp 1 million a meter square for land.