TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - When Mount Kelud began erupting, Surono, who had just retired, was recalled for active duty at the Energy and Mineral Resurces Ministry. It was President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself who announced that he would head the ministry's geological division. This is a higher position than the post he held previously, which was head of the vulcanology and disaster mitigation center.
Surono, 58, readily admits his love of volcanos was due to his strong passion to help victims of disaster. "It's not just the science, but the people afffected by it," he said. If there's a fatality following a volcanic eruption, he sees that as a failure.
His open and relaxed manner has not changed since his retirement. But given all the time he spent in taking care of the displaced people affected by Sinabung's eruption, his original Javanese accent seems to have been a touch influenced by the Batak dialect of the North Sumatrans. Two weeks ago he met with Tempo reporters Nugroho Dewanto and Sorta Tobing for an interview. Excerpts:
Mounts Sinabung and Kelud have barely stopped erupting, now Mount Marapi in West Sumatra has begun spewing out dust.
Marapi has been on alert status since August 2011. It erupts once in a while. Its smoke can attain a maximum height of 2 kilometers. We recommended that no activity be allowed around a 3-kilometer radius from the peak.
In the Sinabung case, was the local government late in handling the refugees?
I see it as a failure of public communication. Yet, I had already gone to the people through the church. In fact, during the fasting month, I assigned my staff to attend the communal prayers after the breaking of the fast. Communication with the community is very important.
The local government doesn't communicate with their constituents?
Well, it's not working. Eventually, it was the 'incident commander', the Simbolga army regiment commander, Col. Andika Perkasa, who managed the evacuees. He is now Brig. Gen. Andika Perkasa, the army's chief of information. I told him then that the danger zone was within a 3-kilometer radius. The number of evacuees had exceeded local capacity. The kids and old folks were kept in tents, not able to go home.
Were the people overly worried?
They were actually outside the danger zone.
It wasn't because residents living in that 3-kilometer radius totaled more than 17,000 people?
No. After that, Pak Andika offered to help me talk to the displaced people. Of course I took the offer, because they were stubborn people, saying they were afraid and all that. I told them, "You should not be afraid. No volcano is dangerous. This is a blessing because it will fertilize the land." Finally, after four days, the people outside the 3-kilometer radius danger zone were willing to go back to their homes.
Looks like it's harder to manage people than volcanos.
Terrified people are my enemies. I must be able to give them confidence to believe that nothing will happen. Our recommendation is a complete package, that the danger zone was within the 3-kilometer radius. There, in that area, there's poison gas, hot clouds, lahar, lava and so forth.
Within the 3-kilometer radius the area must be cleared of people?
It must be empty. Nothing can be in there with all that hot cloud around.
Have you prepared a replacement area?
We have. Since 2010, we have recommended it. But in 2013, we were again attacked [by the people], mercilessly, after having gotten that relocation area with great difficulty. The people there felt [reluctant] at being uprooted from their culture, particularly the Karo people, since their village is their clan. The Saragih village, well, it's filled with Saragihs. Imagine if they had to move to the Napitupulu village, it wouldn't be right. For the people, relocation is the last resort and not something they want to think about.
Did the people there finally agree to relocate?
There were three villages which rejected moving and I met them all in one hall. I asked them, "Do you know why the Karo land is so fertile?" No one answered. I responded, "It's because about 800 years ago, Sinabung erupted, its ash spread far and wide and fertilized the land. You people have benefited from it since the days of your ancestors. For 1,200 years, you have enjoyed the land's fertility. Can anyone complain about that?" Apparently, there were none. So, I said, "Ladies and gentlemen, you will be relocated to a peaceful place, but that place will still be yours." They all said they were willing not to go back to their original homes. (*)
Read the complete interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
