TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Governor of East Java, Soekarwo, and the representatives of Lapindo mud victims in Sidoarjo had an agreement to send a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to ask the government for a guarantee payment of indemnification, as cited in Antara News.

"The principal is, the government with it's power gives assurance of certainty of damages to the residents in the affected areas by PT Lapindo Minarak Jaya," said Soekarwo, on Tuesday.

"The Provincial Government of East Java encourages that payments are to be done as soon as possible. With this letter, thus the schedules will be known and the country must assure it," he said.

There are still around 3,000 head of families that have not been paid for the damages with arrear payments totaling around Rp730 billion.

About 50 representatives of the victims of Lapindo went to meet Soekarwo to demand the government to implement the decision from the Supreme Court involving the compensation payments of damages.

Residence coordinator, Sunarto, said that he came to ask for certainty of payments after the Constitutional Court ask that the government assures the payment of damages for Lapindo victims in the affected areas and forcing PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya to settle indemnities to the residence as soon as possible.

"It has been eight years, it is enough to wait for certainty payments of indemnity," he said.

ANTARA | MARYATI