Lapindo Mudflow Victims Disappointed over Delayed Compensation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lapindo mudflow victims expressed disappointment over the delayed compensation that was promised to be paid on Friday, June 26, 2015.

“If the government was truly committed to helping the people, then they should have supported the people instead of Minarak. We have suffered for nine years,” Sulastry, 39, one of Lapindo mudflow victims, said on Friday, June 26, 2015.

Another victim, Wiwik, 65, echoed Sulastri’s disappointment by saying that the government should have sympathized people’s suffering.

“People have expected the compensation to be disbursed on June 26, 2015. But it’s just an empty promise,” she said.

To this date, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has yet issued a presidential regulation stipulating the compensation for Lapindo mudflow victims. The presidential regulation would serve as a requirement to sign an agreement between the government and Minarak and to approve the budget allocation list (DIPA) from the Finance Ministry.

The compensation was to be paid with a fund of Rp781 billion (US$60 million) allocated in the 2015 State Budget. The Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) verified that the figure was Rp827 billion (US$63.6 million). However, the rest of the fund will be allocated in next year’s state budget.

NUR HADI