A difficult holiday for Sidoarjo mud victims

Yuliana Thomas could only relish the memory of past Christmas celebrations, since the victim of the Sidoarjo, East Java mud disaster is now living in makeshift shelter at the Porong market.

"Christmas used to be fun because we, me and my family, went together to church for Mass," the 30-year-old told The Jakarta Post while shooing flies away from a half-finished rice packet, one of the meals provided to displaced residents in the market.

Her family attended Christmas Mass at Bethel Indonesia Church in Sidoarjo, where many natives of Ambon, like herself, used to go.

After Mass, she and husband Cornelis Bale and their three children would spend time in the church. The children played together while the parents socialized with other families.

Later, the family, who used to live in the Tanggul Angin Sejahtera housing complex, would visit neighbors who were also celebrating. "We would exchange Christmas greetings," she recalled.

But Christmas this year will be very different. In late May, hot mud began gushing from a gas exploration site run by Lapindo Brantas Inc. On Nov. 22, the gradual sinkage of land near the outpouring caused an underground gas pipeline to explode. Four days later, the hot sludge flooded their house. The family has been living in the market shelter ever since.

Another Christian victim from the same housing complex, Supriyadi, did not want to miss out on Christmas. "Maybe my family will go to the Catholic Church in Porong, which is close to the shelter," he told the Post.

His two houses, one in which he lived and another where he used to sell poultry feed, are now only a memory.

"Our village chief said the mud has engulfed our houses to their roofs," said the native of Kediri, East Java. He has been living in the shelter for more than two weeks.

Some 12,000 displaced residents have taken refugee at 50 shop-houses and 272 kiosks in the market, sharing space with other families.

Yuliana divided the 20-square-meter kiosk with a curtain. Clothing and important documents were piled in a corner while the kiosk's terrace housed cooking utensils.

"It's not bad, we still can sleep, although it's very hot inside," Yuliana said.

The women said three weeks in the shelter felt like a year, because it was crowded with thousands of other displaced people.

"When the morning comes, we have to be patient to get through the day," Yuliana said.

In the morning, the family has to struggle even to bathe, since there are only 22 bathrooms in the market for over 12,000 people.

When the water suddenly stops running, many have to skip washing. For families with children, the situation is even more difficult. A health post helps by providing free treatment for the refugees.

"My children are the most miserable. Two have started suffering from constant coughing and flu and the other one suffers diarrhea," Yuliana said.

East Java media spotlight women's issues

Kosmonita Radio manager Idah Ernawati was engaged in a serious discussion with a new announcer, Elly.

"I noticed that you constantly apologize to listeners when on the air. It sounds ignorant. We have to be sharp on air, at the same time conveying our thoughts to the listeners," said Idah.

"Maybe you could leave out the word 'sorry' and repeat the sentence without it," said Novie, a producer.

Elly listened closely, sometimes asking questions.

Discussing and evaluating radio programs is routine at Radio Kosmonita, which caters to female listeners in Surabaya.

"In general, Kosmonita wants issues surrounding women be resolved, partly through the programs we air. The approach may be slow, but the process of going toward that goal must be lively," Idah told The Jakarta Post.

Women's issues have reemerged this year in advance of Women's Day on Dec. 22. Once again, the discussions range from the role of women in the family, domestic violence, and women as second class citizens, to harassment against women, not only in Indonesia but worldwide.

Women still appear to be at a disadvantage in society, which has prompted some media outlets to focus on women's issues full-time.

The Surabaya chapter of the Alliance of Indonesian Journalists (AJI) says around 20 percent of the print media in Surabaya caters to women.

The Surabaya office of the Indonesian National Private Radio Broadcasting Association says four of the 25 radio stations in Surabaya are aimed at a female audience.

"The question is, whether or not women's media has seriously accommodated women and been able to address these issues," said Sunudyantoro from AJI's programming division.

Members of the women's media are asking the same question. Idah Ernawati from Radio Kosmonita, which started airing on Dec. 22, 2000, discusses the station's impact every year with listeners.

"We are aware that the female media has not reached maximum effectiveness yet," said Idah.

Because of institutionalized sexism, women neglect the issues, while the media outlets that aim to address them feel they crash into a brick wall. "Frankly speaking, the issues are not easy to resolve," Idah said. "The government has also not made any efforts to address the problem."

The chief editor of Surabaya's Venus fashion and beauty magazine, Abdurrohman, echoed those remarks. He said it was difficult for the women's media to address the mindset of prejudice head-on, because there is no general understanding of women's status.

"Eventually, there must be a suitable strategy to do that," said Abdurrohman.

He said finding strategies to reach women was not easy. Venus magazine had to change its format three times in a span of two years.

"Initially, we formulated it as a family magazine, then as a magazine for up-scale women, and finally for women in the middle income bracket," said Abdurrohman.

It was in the latter format that the magazine, with a circulation of 25,000, was able to penetrate the women's market by presenting fashion and beauty news.

"Our main content is lifestyle, but we also offer education, such as on sexual hygiene and child care," said Abdurrohman, adding that this was the most successful formula in terms of market acceptance.

The chair of the Women's Pro-Democracy Committee, Erma Susanti, said media attention to women's issues should be encouraged. She said it was raising women's awareness of such problems as domestic violence, which was earlier perceived as a source of private shame, unworthy of discussion.

"Since the media has created room to discuss domestic violence, the issue has gradually been spoken about openly, though not every woman is familiar with the topic," she explained.

Sidoarjo mudflow victims find home in goat pen

The noise from a passing train made Kastanah halt in the middle of her story. She instinctively pulled her son, Muhamad Rizki Wahyudi, 1, closer to her with one hand, and with the other shielded his face from the dust.

"The dust and noise make it hard to sleep," she sighed when the train had passed.

Kastanah represents the human face of the mudflow disaster in Sidoarjo, East Java, where a sea of mud has flowed from Lapindo Brantas Inc.'s gas exploration site since May 29.

When the mud inundated her house in Ketapang village, Kastanah, her husband Qoirul Amin and their three children -- Angelina Fernanda, 5, Trias Wahyu Anggraeni, 3, and Muhamad -- were forced to scramble for whatever shelter they could find.

While some of the villagers were lucky enough to have relatives who could put them up, Kastanah and her family ended up in a 10-square-meter goat pen not far from their home.

She said they had little choice because they could not afford the cost of renting a house farther from the disaster and moving their belongings.

"It costs a lot of money to move. Where would we get the money from?" she cried.

While the mudflow clearly has been a disaster for thousands of residents, for some people, such as those with trucks to rent, it has become a windfall opportunity. Residents used to only pay Rp 150,000 to 200,000 to rent a truck to move their belongings. Now the charge is Rp 500,000, plus what they must pay the workers to carry their possessions.

With her husband losing his job at a nearby cigarette factory, Kastanah and her family could not afford to move away.

The best they could do was load their clothes and few other belongings into a borrowed pedicab as the hot mud threatened their village and find shelter in the goat pen.

"It would be too far for the pedicab to take us to Porong market .... We were lucky just to find this goat pen."

The bamboo pen, with a plastic sheet for a roof, is located next to the railway tracks and near the side of the main road connecting Sidoarjo and Porong.

They have piled their bags, a stove, a wooden cabinet and some cooking utensils into a corner, while a wooden bed with a thin mattress sits in the center of the pen. Two old chairs sit next to the road. There are no laundry or bathroom facilities.

The three children cried constantly during the recent visit by The Jakarta Post.

With the hot mud still spewing from the ground, more and more people are being displaced. In Porong market, there were 2,605 families, or 9,936 people, taking shelter. This number jumped to about 12,000 people this week with the arrival of new mudflow victims.

Thousands of residents have sought treatment at community health centers and hospitals since the mud began flowing.

There do not seem to be any solutions to the disaster forthcoming, as the mud inches closer to inundating the railroad tracks and the main road in the area.

Kastanah and her family, unfortunately, have a front-row seat to the disaster. The nearby road is usually packed with vehicles trying to leave the area for Banyuwangi and Malang. And the railroad tracks are the only ones serving the Surabaya-Malang-Banyuwangi route.

"The dust, smoke and noise of cars and trains is torture," Kastanah sighed.

HIV targets everyone: NGO activist

The Jakarta Post has publish this story on Monday, December 05, 2005

Despite having contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), there is no expression of fear on Sigit Sumargo's face. "All that I'm experiencing now is a consequence of my past deeds," said the 29-year-old Sigit (not his real name).

His agony began in 1994 when he became drug dependent. Since then, his life has been on a downward slide. His dependency on putaw (low-grade heroin) led him to criminal acts. He stole things from his house almost every day and sold them to the flea market -- jewelry, household utensils, and even the flag pole, which he sold for Rp 20,000 (US$2.00).

The only thing on his mind, he recollects, was how to get the money to buy the illicit substance. "What else could I sell, or who else could I cheat?" he recalled.

The habit only came to an end in 2002 after he became fed up of being dependent on drugs. "I was tired of telling lies and stealing," said Sigit, who was very active in student politics in the middle of the 1990s. He even joined a left-wing political party and was involved in activities to fight the Soeharto regime.

He recalled the decision to stop taking drugs was the hardest he had ever faced. He felt like every bone in his body was being poked with needles, the joints aching like they were trampled on by horses and various other pains in his body for more than a week.

But, then they were gone, and he felt the pleasure of being free from drugs. "After being free from drugs, I felt fresh waking up in the morning," said Sigit, a former basket ball player.

But, the suffering had not ended. Last year, he caught an illness that made his breathing difficult and it did not improve. He went to the hospital and the hospital found white specks on his lungs. The doctor suggested Sigit undergo a full medical checkup, including a HIV test.

The test results showed that he was HIV positive. Sigit recalls it was 2004 just a few days before Idul Fitri. "Frankly speaking, I was not surprised at all by the test results because I had realized it was a possibility and I accepted it," said the son of one of the caretakers of an Islamic boarding school in East Java.

He contracted HIV due to sharing needles among fellow addicts.

It was a terrible blow to his family. Provided with bottled water, bread and a cell phone, Sigit was left alone at the Infectious Diseases Intermediate facility, a clinic for HIV/AIDS patients at Dr. Soetomo hospital. In the beginning, the harsh response of his family enraged him. Initially he put all the blame on the family, but later he accepted their stance. Now, he accepts responsibility for his predicament.

His experience has led him to the awareness that he can do something for the community. In solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS, Sigit has decided to stand up and become an active advocate of HIV/AIDS prevention.

Sigit is one of the 200 or so residents of Surabaya who have HIV. The actual number could be much higher and it should serve as a wake-up call as World AIDS Day is observed on Dec. 1. Based on data from the Surabaya Health Office in 2004, 217 people have contracted HIV, while 106 of them have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Data from 2003 shows that 99 people had contracted HIV, 49 of whom had AIDS.

Executive director of Hotline Surya, an NGO working with people with HIV, Esti Susanti, said that, learning from Sigit's case, it was clear that anyone could contract HIV/AIDS, from sex workers to even children from religious backgrounds. "Let there be no negative impression of people living with HIV/AIDS. Anyone can contract the virus," she told the Post.

She further said that besides support from the community, people living with HIV/AIDS could also be helped through antiretroviral therapy. With continued treatment the drugs can help improve immunity and increase the quality of life, allowing the person with HIV/AIDS to live longer.

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East Java bylaw to protect people living with HIV/AIDS
Friday, May 14, 2004

People living with AIDS in East Java can breathe a sigh of relief for, in the near future, East Java will have a bylaw that will protect them. The bylaw, which is slated to be the first in the country, will put an end to discrimination experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Plans to put the bylaw into action were revealed following recent discussions between East Java legislative council Commission E and the organization People's Care for AIDS (MPA).

Commission E deputy speaker Lutfilah Masduki said after the meeting that the bylaw would stipulate penalties on those who discriminated against PLWHA in, for example, workplaces or schools. "If school authorities expel a student who has HIV/AIDS, they could be imprisoned for three months or fined Rp 3 million (US$350)," he said on Tuesday.

Separately, GAYa Nusantara gay rights organization chairman Budianto hailed the plan, saying that it would end discrimination against PLWHA. People who lead gay lifestyles are often perceived by the public as being associated with HIV/AIDS".

"I'm happy that the bylaw will be issued soon and hope it will be followed by concrete government action, such as providing low-cost medication to PLWHA and supplying low-cost condoms to the public as a preventive measure," said Budianto.

Besides, he added, the bylaw should also address widely held public prejudices that HIV/AIDS can be spread through conventional social interaction.

"People tend to think that HIV/AIDS can be spread through talking, kissing or meeting other people, but that's wrong. The realities should be set out clearly within the bylaw," he said.

Given that such prejudices have spread widely through society, it is hardly surprising that society, in turn, often ostracizes PLWHA, including their own families, he said.

HIV/AIDS cases at Dr. Sutomo Hospital, Jan to May, 2004
Children : 3 Adults : 226 Deceased : 180 Receiving treatment : 46
Source: Dr. Sutomo General Hospital (largest in Surabaya)

East Java workers protest new minimum wage for 2007

Hundreds of workers in East Java held street protests Wednesday to show their opposition to the new minimum wage level set to be implemented across the province next month.

The protesters from the Alliance of Workers Struggle group called for East Java Governor Imam Utomo to lift the new minimum wage from the planned Rp 746,000 to the alliance's demand of Rp 975,000.

Arriving in trucks and on motorcycles, the protest was made up of workers from Surabaya's factories, with others from Malang, Pasuruan and Sidoarjo later joining the demonstration.

For Malang, the governor set the wage at Rp 743,000, lower than the revised proposal from the regent at Rp 745,109 and the survey of basic needs made by the city's remuneration council at Rp 770,109.

The alliance's spokesman, Jamaludin, said the governor's local Dec. 8 ordinance on the minimum wage was based on an erroneous survey of workers' basic needs.

Meanwhile, the local regency and municipal administrations in the province had failed to pass on workers' demands to the governor, he said.

"It makes no sense that the amount proposed by the regents, mayor and a remuneration council in Surabaya is only Rp 748,000, much less than in other cities in East Java. It's not valid," Jamaludin said.

The alliance came to its wage demand after holding an independent survey on basic needs, he said.

Jamaludin accused regional leaders of taking part in backroom deals before making a decision on the wage, with proposals from several cities, including Gresik, Pasuruan and Malang, handed back by the governor to be revised downward.

"That's why the alliance demands the East Java governor revoke the ordinance and revise the minimum wage. There should be transparency and accountability when determining the wage and workers' basic needs," Jamaludin said.

The alliance has also requested the governor take into account an 8 percent inflation rate when setting the wage.

Meanwhile, the head of East Java's manpower office, Bahruddin, questioned the motive for the protest.

"How can (workers) know that the (provincial government's) survey of basic needs is invalid?" Bahruddin told The Jakarta Post.

He said his office would discuss the matter with the administration.

Lions and dragons and drums in Surabaya

After a four-year pause, the sound of drums and cymbals was once again heard as performers competed in the 3rd Dragon and Lion Dance World Championship, held at Kenjeran Park in Surabaya.

Surabayans were entertained from Friday to Sunday by 23 teams from 12 nations, including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States, Belgium, France, Korea, and Indonesia. All were vying to perform the best version of the dance, which originated in China.

The first competition was held in China in 2000 and the second in Malaysia in 2002. The event was suspended in 2004 due to the bird flu scare.

The teams of costumed dancers imitate the animals' movements in time to the music, and also perform acrobatics.

Chinese Vice Minister of Sports Zhang Fa Qiang, who also chairs the International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, was in the audience.

"The Chinese government is proud that the biennial event could be organized again," said Zhang.

China, said Zhang, fully supported staging the event in Indonesia, since dances were no longer the sole property of China but were popular worldwide.

"We hope the lion and dragon performances will be included in the next Olympics," said Zhang.

The dances were banned under the rule of former president Soeharto. They began to make a comeback seven years ago in various events involving Chinese-Indonesians.

The Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian teams were favored to win in the tournament.

In the final rounds on Dec. 10, the three teams put on their best performances. The Chinese team, which had showed its mastery on the first day, unexpectedly dropped out of the competition in the final.

The Malaysian and Indonesian teams performed remarkably. Seven judges provided the same points to both countries, while China placed second.

"The judges were at one point confused on how to decide the winner," the organizing chairman of the event, Soetiadji, told The Jakarta Post. They eventually gave the Indonesian and Malaysian teams a runoff.

That was when the Indonesian team gave its best performance and was named the winner. "May Indonesia defend its title in the 4th Dragon and Lion Dance World Championship which will be held in Australia," said Soetiadji.

Lapindo to meet victims' demands

Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo



Lapindo Brantas Inc has agreed to buy the land, buildings and rice fields affected by the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster for the prices demanded by their owners.

However, a legal watchdog present at Monday's announcement slammed the promise, saying it was not legally binding and was probably empty words.

The agreement was announced at the Sidoarjo regency administration by Yusuf M. Martak, the vice president of PT Energi Mega Persada (EMP) Tbk, which has 50 percent stake in Lapindo Brantas.

Yusuf was accompanied by Sidoarjo Regent Win Hendrarso, head of the mudflow disaster mitigation team Basuki Hadimulyono, Lapindo Brantas general manager Imam Pria Agustino, East Java Governor Imam Utomo and hundreds of mudflow victims.

"We will not leave Sidoarjo and we will pay in line with the victims' demands so as to make them happy," Yusuf said.

Lapindo has promised to buy houses for Rp 1 million (US$105.26) a square meter, other buildings at Rp 1.5 million a square meter, while rice paddy owners would receive Rp 120,000 a square meter.

"The price is above the sale value of the taxed properties." The payments would be made "within the next two years", Yusuf said.

However, Sidoarjo Legal Aid Institute manager Attoilah said the agreement had no legal foundation because no one had signed anything.

"One day, Lapindo will breach the agreement. People will find it difficult to sue Lapindo if the value of the compensation they receive is not in line with the agreement due to the absence of legal proof," he said.

Upon hearing Lapindo's announcement, hundreds of emotional mudflow victims cheered, while others shouted, "Long live Pak Win", referring to the Sidoarjo regent.

Several of the villagers had shaved their heads to protest the government and Lapindo's handling of the disaster.

Yusuf said Lapindo had also prepared 500 to 600 hectares of land to build houses for the mudflow victims.

"The Bakrie Group, which also deals with real estate development, will invest in the housing sector in Sidoarjo. The concept will be similar to the construction of the Kelapa Gading housing complex in East Jakarta. It will be named Sidoarjo Baru," he said.

Yusuf said a formula for the compensation was still being calculated by a survey team from the Surabaya Institute of Technology.

According to regency data, 3,940 houses in the Siring, Jatirejo, Renokenongo, Kedungbendo and Besuki villages have been affected by the mudflow. Huge swathes of sugar cane and rice paddies have also been submerged.

Lapindo has never been prosecuted by the government for the disaster, despite evidence surfacing that the company had caused the mudflow by flouting safety standards while prospecting for natural gas.

A police investigation into Lapindo management has mysteriously stalled.

Expedition in Java Sea introduces students to work of a Navy warship

This Story Has Published on The Jakarta Post December 04, 2006

Two landing craft utility (LCU) vessels slowly drifted onto the sea after the frigate's hatchway opened.

Diesel engines on both vessels, which are usually used to transport troops and equipments to shore, began to operate under the watchful eyes of students on board the KRI Tanjung Dalpele, the largest frigate owned by the Navy.

The students, from the Surabaya 10th November Institute of Technology, were taking part in the 2006 Marine Technology expedition. They were tense and excited. When the LCUs backed up from the ship's stern and sped off, they cheered.

As many as 396 students took part in the recent expedition organized by the institute and the Eastern Navy Fleet in Surabaya as part of a student assignment for the 2006/2007 semester.

For the expedition in the Java sea, the students were accompanied by the institute's marine engineering school's dean and staff.

For the students, firsthand interaction with the warship was a once-in-a-life-time experience. The frigate which is equipped with military equipment, is rarely accessible to the general public.

Students from the institute's marine, shipping and shipping system engineering departments seemed very enthusiastic and inquisitive, asking questions on every aspect of the Korean-made ship -- from its capabilities to the armaments.

"Although the KRI Tanjung Dalpele is the country's biggest warship, its layout is similar to those of other warships, such as the engine room, navigation room and recycling room," First Lt. Endin, the ship's electrical division chief, told the students.

The students, divided into 24 groups, had their main focus on the engine room. The ship is powered by a massive 2,665 horsepower engine.

"I'd never imagined that observing a ship's engine firsthand would be far more interesting than looking at it in books," said fifth semester marine engineering student Mohammad Hafid.

Students then visited the accommodation, safety equipment and steering gear rooms. The navigation room situated on Deck F was the most popular, where students were provided with various information on the state-of-the-art equipment. It is also the place where the ship commander, Lt. Col. Purwanto, monitors every movement on board.

However, despite all the sophistication, the participants questioned the scant knowledge of crew members accompanying them during the tour. One student received a different answer to the same question from crewmen in the navigation room.

"I asked the same question to the guiding officer and the one operating a device in the navigation room, but received a different answer, in spite of the fact that it was technical in nature," said the student.

The LCU trial run, which should have been an unforgettable experience for the students, turned out to be a disappointment when the engine of one LCU stalled in the middle of the sea.

The most frustrating disruption was the change of itinerary. The expedition was initially planned to kick off at the Eastern Navy Fleet base in Surabaya, sailing to Karimun Java waters in Central Java on the first day, then resuming the voyage to Kangen Island, Madura, on the second day.

However, the organizers changed the plan due to the long distance. The expedition only took them to an offshore oil rig, which was just 17 nautical miles from the navy base.

"We didn't even have the chance to get on the rig to learn about its working procedures," said student Aldipo.

Despite that, dean of the marine engineering school, Asjhar Imron, expressed hope the expedition would be the first step in interesting the students in the country's maritime world.

"Marine engineering is not a popular discipline for students at the moment. This expedition is one of the ways (we're hoping) to draw their attention," said Asjhar.

Unfavorable business climate hampers CSR

A company's concern over the community around its location, usually manifested in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, is often hampered by a business climate and local cultures that are not conducive to maximum implementation of this scheme. As a result, the financial aid and facilities that a company extends to a local community through its CSR program fail to produce optimum benefits and the condition of the local community remains virtually unchanged even after a CSR program has been implemented.

This unfavorable situation can be found, for example, in Ngadimulyo village, Sukorejo district, Pasuruan regency, East Java. Economically, the community here has not experienced any significant change despite various forms of assistance received from PT HM Sampoerna Tbk through its CSR program called "Bina Warga Sampoerna" (Development of Locals by Sampoerna). Sampoerna has channeled loans totaling millions of rupiah but the repayment of the loans has not run smoothly. "If the repayment of the loans extended under this program ran smoothly, more aid may be channeled to more people," said Mrs. Ita, a member of the management of Pokja Sampoerna (Sampoerna's working group).

PT HM Sampoerna Tbk kicked off its CSR program with the establishment of Sampoerna Foundation on March 1, 2001. This foundation, the brainchild of Putera Sampoerna, the president commissioner of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk, aims to improve the education sector in Indonesia, and provide greater access for further studies to students with excellent academic achievements. Besides Sampoerna Foundation, HM Sampoerna also carries out a number of partnership programs, such as a partnership program in tobacco or cigarette production and a program under which locals are empowered and developed. The Bina Warga Program is based on social, economic and educational activities undertaken in residential areas around the location of Sampoerna's factory.

For the activities of Sampoerna Foundation, HM Sampoerna allocates 2 percent of the company's net profit every year. Meanwhile, for its partnership program in tobacco, HM Sampoerna involves some 2,000 locals in growing tobacco on a plot of land measuring 4,820 hectares. Under this partnership program, locals are taught how to grow and look after tobacco plants. This program has produced outstanding results: every year their tobacco harvest reaches 10,500 tons.

In its partnership program in cigarette production, HM Sampoerna runs 32 production units in Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and West Java. This partnership program, which can employ some 51,000 people, involves about nine cooperatives, three Islamic boarding schools and 20 small and medium enterprises.

In Ngadimulyo village, which is located near Sampoerna's factory in Pasuruan, the Bina Warga Sampoerna program was kicked off in mid 2004. Under this scheme, PT HM Sampoerna allocates funds to be channeled as aid to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly for the production of tempeh. The funds are managed by Pokja Sampoerna and are channeled to community members belonging to community groups. In Ngadimulyo there are 53 community groups, which mostly make tempeh.

Muji and Tamimah, both traditional tempeh producers and members of a community group, enjoy this aid extended under the Bina Warga Sampoerna program. They have received loans since the beginning of the program. "It's not much. I usually borrow Rp 500,000 to start my tempeh production," Tamimah told The Jakarta Post.

She said she spent the money on purchasing soybeans for her tempeh.

Every day, Muji and Tamimah process 80 kilos of soybeans. They rinse the soybeans and then boil them in a large container. Afterwards they mixed the boiled soybeans with yeast and set the mixture aside for three days. "On the third day, we have tempeh. My husband sells our tempeh at Palang market, Sukorejo," Tamimah said. The water in which the soybeans are boiled is later mixed with feed for their cattle. Their gross income from selling tempeh can reach Rp 350,000 a day.

Thanks to their income selling tempeh, Muji and Tamimah can send their three children to school. Two of them go to a state university in Surabaya. "Thank God, all this is the fruit of our small-scale business," said Tamimah, who is now developing her business of selling cows for slaughter.

However, not all community group members are as successful as Muji and Tamimah. According to data compiled by Pokja Sampoerna in Ngadimulyo village, the majority of borrowers fail to repay their loans in full. Some do not even make the first installment. They usually argue that their business has yet to be successful. "As the price of soybeans fluctuates, tempeh makers cannot develop their business. As a result, their loans don't get paid off," said Musta'in, coordinator of Pokja Sampoerna in Ngadimulyo village.

What makes matters worse is the hot mudflow in Porong, Sidoarjo, which has had an adverse impact on the local market. Locals usually selling tempeh at Porong market have to find another market. "Before this hot mud disaster, I could sell 100 kilos of tempeh at Porong market every day, but now to sell just 25 kilos of tempeh a day is really difficult," Musta'in said, without any enthusiasm.

To cope with this unfavorable condition, Pokja Sampoerna has modified its strategy in the channeling of aid. Instead of extending loans, it provides aid in the form of soybeans. However, a new problem has arisen. "Tempeh makers prefer to purchase soybeans on credit. Pokja Sampoerna, however, makes available soybeans on a cash and carry basis," said Musta'in. And now a new strategy has been devised. Pokja Sampoerna has established the Sampoerna Entrepreneurship Training Center (PPKS), which is open to locals interested in areas like horticulture, landscape design, cattle breeding, waste treatment, food processing, motorcycle repair and fisheries to improve their skills and qualifications. The result? Just wait and see.

March revived to remember historic Surabaya battle

This Stories Has Publish at The Jakarta Post at, Nopember 28, 2006

It was close to dawn, but despite the early hour loud police sirens and cheers from thousands of waiting spectators greeted a group of marchers entering Surabaya's Tugu Pahlawan monument area.

The 10-member Aremba team was the first to reach the finish line at the Mojokerto-Surabaya competition. "Go Aremba," yelled the group's supporters.

The tired and sweaty faces of the young men from Lakarsari district in west Surabaya brightened as they reached the finish line.

After a nine-year hiatus, the traditional march from Mojokerto to Surabaya was revived this year in East Java.

The competition was originally organized to commemorate a heroic incident from the 1945 Battle of Surabaya, during Indonesia's fight for independence.

A Surabaya cultural observer, Kadaruslan, said many freedom fighters involved in the struggle in Surabaya came from Mojokerto.

When Allied forces began besieging Surabaya, fighters from Mojokerto came to protect the city. "They walked 55 km to fight in the battle. It is commemorated today by the younger generation as the Mojokerto-Surabaya Traditional March," Kadaruslan told The Jakarta Post.

The traditional march had been held annually since the 1980s but was suspended in 1997.

"The political and economic situations at that time were not favorable for us to organize such a competition, especially the security conditions, which were at their worst," said the vice chairman of the Surabaya office of the National Sports Council, Sunardi.

Participants did not have to pay a fee this year, as they did in the past. Some 3,270 contestants from various cities in Java, including 550 teams and 1,070 individual participants, took part in the competition.

They were grouped in categories such as military/police and general public, competing for a total cash prize of Rp 25 million (US$2,800).

The main highway between Mojokerto and Surabaya was closed for previous competitions, but not this time. Sunardi said organizers gave the marchers careful instructions on how to compete without hindering traffic.

"We wanted to educate people on road discipline because the number of team members this year was 10, compared to 20 previously, and two teams marched simultaneously in a row," said Sunardi.

The organizing committee carried over the evaluation methods used in previous years. The competition is based, not on speed, but accurate timing, orderliness and team spirit.

"At a normal walking pace of 6 km per hour, competitors can cover the distance in between nine and 10 hours," said Sunardi, who is also a committee member.

During the contest's wee hours, a group of vintage bicycle lovers acted as pacesetters. Their historical costumes evoked the atmosphere of the struggle era.

The marching competition was a nostalgic event for some Surabaya citizens.

Suhaeri, a resident of Kapasari, who used to take part in the march, watched with his 10-year-old son, Aditya Katon.

"I want my son to know Surabaya has the Mojokerto-Surabaya traditional marching competition, which is unique and rich in historical value," said Suhaeri.

Two of his nephews participated in the event as individual contestants. "I don't expect them to win, but what's more important is for them to enliven the event," he said.

Hot mud, gas fumes bog down rescuers

This Stories Has Publish at The Jakarta Post National News - November 24, 2006

by Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho
The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo, Surabaya

Rescuers continued to search for up to a dozen missing people at the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster Thursday, a day after a gas pipeline exploded, killing at least seven people and shooting flames hundreds of meters into the air.

The powerful blast occurred at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after an embankment built to contain the hot mud burst, sweeping four cars away and closing the main Porong toll road. Between four and 12 people are believed to be still missing.

"We have used helicopters, excavating machines and rubber boats -- but we have not found the missing victims," said Mohammad, the chief of the search and rescue team.

The search was hindered by the hot mud and the risk of toxic gas after the explosion. The temperature of the mud was so high it could melt rubber shoes, Mohammad said.

The seven people killed included two policeman, two soldiers and a local military commander. The dead were identified as Capt. Afandi, commander of the Balongbendo military district in Sidoarjo; Chief Pvt. Slamet; First Pvt. Fani; Second Sgt. Nafis of Kepanjen military command; Tri Iswandi and Yusman Ediyanto of state road management company PT Jasa Marga; and Edi Sutarno, a worker for a local contracting company.

Sidoarjo traffic police head Adj. Comr. Andi Yudianto said the death toll would likely rise because many people were working at the site when the explosion occurred.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the government "would take steps to ensure that the situation at the disaster area would not deteriorate further".

Edi Sunardi, from the Indonesian Association of Geologists, told AFP experts had warned about continuing to operate the gas pipeline in a disaster area.

Operated by Pertamina, the line channels gas from northeast East Java to a chemicals plant and to state gas and electricity firms.

The mudflow caused land subsidence, which put pressure on the 70 cm gas pipe, Sunardi said

"It (the subsidence) exerts pressure on the pipe and at one point, when the pressure is too much to bear, the pipe will break, the high-pressure gas will leak out and explode on contact with air.

"We have already warned about the potential of such incidents, since quite early after the 'mud volcano' developed. But it seems the warning has fallen on deaf ears," Sunardi said.

The land around the gas well has sunk up to five meters so far, officials said.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who heads the mudflow disaster team, said the team planned to strengthen the destroyed embankment, relocate the toll road, railway tracks and the pipeline, and build another spillway to anticipate the rising mudflow during the rainy season.

Purnomo said the explosion was caused by subsidence. "(The mud) broke the transmission pipe which then made the pressure rise to 400 psi (pounds per square inch) and the gas automatically shut down while the remaining gas ignited," Purnomo said.

However, Purnomo dismissed risks of another blast.

Trijono, general manager of the East Java office of state-owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, said that the explosion had caused the company to suffer losses of about Rp 10 billion (US$1.05 million) a day.

The company was forced to stop gas supplies to between 30 and 40 companies, including food seasoning company PT Ajinomoto, cement company PT Semen Gresik and state electricity company PT PLN, he said.

Meanwhile, Zulfikar celebrated his first birthday Thursday at the Dr. Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, where his father is being treated for the severe injuries he sustained in the explosion.

Andri suffered burns to nearly 80 percent of his body after being thrown into the hot mud.

Mudflow victims rally for compensation

Thousands of victims of the mudflow disaster in Porong district in Sidoarjo, East Java, rallied Monday to demand gas drilling company PT Lapindo Brantas increase its compensation for their losses.

Protests were held at three separate locations -- the Sidoarjo regency administration office, the nearby Siring overpass and along the main road in Porong.

There was no immediate response to the protesters' demand from Lapindo, which operates the gas well at the center of the mudflow, the Sidoarjo regency administration or the national team in charge of dealing with the disaster.

Some 10,000 people have been displaced and entire villages inundated by the mud since a drilling accident in May, causing an unfolding environmental disaster in the Sidoarjo area, near Indonesia's second largest city of Surabaya.

In Porong, protesters blocked a main road with truckloads of sand.

"We are here to claim our rights as Indonesian citizens. A few days ago, we not only lost our houses but also our paddy fields and all the infrastructure because of Lapindo," Muhammad Kudori, a representative of the protesters, said after meeting local officials and the head of the operator of the gas well.

The Banjar Panji well at the center of the disaster is operated by Lapindo, a unit of PT Energi Mega Persada, partly owned by the Bakrie Group, which is controlled by the family of Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie.

The firm has denied the mudflow is directly linked to the drilling operation.

Lapindo has offered a monthly stipend of Rp 300,000 (US$32.86) to villagers who have lost their houses, as well as rent for new accommodation. It also has set aside Rp 6.9 billion to cover agricultural losses over the next few years, according to Reuters.

Anger has been mounting in the area as hot mud continues to gush out of the ground at a rate of 50,000 cubic meters a day, despite several contingency plans to plug the leak.

Many of the protesters who gathered outside the Sidoarjo regent's office have lost their homes and fields in the past week because of the mudflow, which is also blamed for a gas pipeline explosion in the area last Wednesday that killed 11 people.

"I agree with your demand for compensation for houses and buildings," said Basuki Hadimulyo, the managing head of the national task force formed by the government to tackle the mudflow.

"I will fight for your rights in Jakarta."

In the middle of negotiations, representatives of the victims walked out when the national team could not guarantee their demanded compensation.

The protesters blocked a road connecting Surabaya to northern cities in East Java with three truckloads of sand.

Several experts have said the mudflow could have been triggered by a crack about 6,000 feet deep inside the well.

ID Nugroho contributed to this article from Surabaya.

Drought means profit for salt farmers

:: Do not republish. If you like to republish, please contact id_nugroho@yahoo.com, id_nugroho@telkom.net or call mobile phone: +62-81-6544-3718 ::

This Images Has Published By The Jakarta Post Sunday, Nopember 26 2006

When a continued and prolonged dry season causes droughts in
other areas of the country, salt farmers find reason to rejoice,
as is the case with Muhammad in Gresik, East Java.
The current dry season means Muhammad and his family can
expect an abundant harvest of salt. While the price of the
commodity remains the same, a greater amount of harvested salt
gives them hope for greater returns.
Muhammad and his family are just one group of salt farmers who
view the lingering dry season as a blessing.
"When it has been hot like this, we can expect a larger
harvest, even double the usual amount," Muhammad told The Jakarta Post on Oct. 23.
Originally from Bangkalan, Madura, Muhammad admitted he did
not know the exact amount of salt they harvested -- whether by
weight or volume -- as the commodity was measured only according
to the number of trucks needed to transport the salt from the
farm for packaging and sale.
At his farm, Muhammad is assisted by his wife, daughter and
son-in-law during the harvest. The profits he has made from his
business has enabled him to buy the farm.
A "bumper crop" also means a bonus for the family, he said:
"On average, a family of four can earn Rp 100,000 per week -- or
Rp 400,000 per month -- excluding the bonus we'll make for a
large harvest."
When harvest season nears, Muhammad recruits two
granddaughters to help out; they stay in a simple hut in the
middle of the farm. Aside from providing shelter during the
hottest part of the day, the hut is also used by those who take
turns in guarding the harvested salt.
"Maybe, after the harvest season is over, we'll all go back to
Madura and wait for the next harvest," he mused.

-- Iman.D. Nugroho



Garam yang sudah "matang" dikumpulkan.


Ditumpuk di pinggir pematang tambak.


Dikumpulkan di bukit garam kecil.


Diangkut menggunakan pikulan bambu.


Gubuk bambu sebagai tempat istirahat.

Pasuruan body boarders kick up mud

It's all fun in the mud, as a boy pushes his much younger sibling on his skilot board across cracked mud.

A layer of dried, cracked mud breaks off as a body board carrying Abdullah flies over its surface, kicking at the gray muddy water. Spectators packed into the racing arena on Tuesday in Tambak Lekok village, Lekok subdistrict, Pasuruan regency scream and urge on the body boarders. Within seconds, local contestant Abdullah crosses the finish line, emerging the champion of the 2006 skilot competition.

Unlike in Sidoarjo, mud is the source of fun and laughter as thousands of residents from nearby East Java cities crowd the skilot racecourse, located about 70 kilometers from capital Surabaya. The two-hectare arena is gay with the rhythmic sounds of dangdut and the buzz of a traditional bazaar.

Skilot is unique to Pasuruan and is much like body boarding -- except racers surf on mud ponds, not ocean waves. The sport was inspired by clammers who make a living along the East Java coastline, digging for the bivalves in mud during low tides.

As the sucking quality of mud impeded their movements, the clammers used a 30 x 100 centimeter board while clamming -- and in the process, discovered a new speed game. Skilot was born.

According to local figure Abdussalam, skilot racing began in the mid-1980s: "The local government thought this cultural event had tourism potential, so they established the contest."

In the mid-1990s, owing to its huge popularity, the East Java government built a skilot racetrack in Tanah Lekok Pasuruan. The track is shaped like a horseshoe and is 100 meters long. Racers get ready on an embankment about halfway down the track, while spectators line up on the opposite bank.

Asmawi, a Lekok Pasuruan resident known as a skilot expert, said that although the sport might look easy to master, some skill was required to control a skilot board, particularly in balancing on the board.

Racers keep their bodies low over the board, grasping the board handle with both hands and supporting their weight on one knee while kicking with the other leg like an oar to propel the skilot across the mud. Breathing in this position takes some training as well.

"Frankly, strong breathing is highly crucial to skilot surfing, and if your breathing isn't strong enough, you'll get tired after only a few meters," smiled Asmawi.

No binding rules exist in skilot, and the boards are made by racers themselves. Participants draw lots to determine their starting positions, a signal is given, and they are off across the mud.

"It's a simple arrangement, but racers do get disqualified," said racing committee head Mujiyin, "particularly if racers use both legs for kicking."

This year's competition involved 44 adult racers and four child racers from Pasuruan's fishing, clamming and fish farming communities, who vied for the top three spots and a combined cash prize of Rp 1.8 million. But all racers receive a Rp 10,000 participation gift prize.

"Everyone's a winner," said Mujiyin.

11 confirmed dead after boat capsizes off Madura, Indonesia

Published by The Jakarta Post Friday Edition, November 03, 2006

Eleven people drowned Wednesday evening when a fishing boat carrying 21 passengers capsized in the waters of Karang Nangka, off Sumenep regency, Madura, an official said Thursday.

The tragedy occurred when the group left Raas island to visit the graves of relatives on neighboring Sapudi island, before continuing on to Bali where they work, Sumenep Water and Air Police chief Adj. Comr. Hariyanto said.

The 21 people leased a fishing boat that only had a capacity of 15, and the load was made even heavier because the boat was also carrying two motorbikes and other goods, Hariyanto said.

Fishermen from Raas and Sapudi islands picked up the survivors and the bodies of the dead, he said. The officer added that nine of the victims had already been buried on Sepudi island and the other two on Raas.

At the start of the journey, the boat almost overturned after being hit by large waves, but the captain managed to maintain control. "However, when the boat reached a distance of five to 10 miles from Sepudi island, it capsized, forcing the passengers into the sea," Hariyanto said.

Fishermen on a nearby boat managed to rescue 10 passengers, but were unable to save the other 11, he said.

Hariyanto added that the fishermen also rescued the owner of the capsized boat.

"The boat owner, identified as Rudi, 38, and his unidentified assistant are being detained at Sapudi Police station for questioning," Sumenep Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Muallimin said, as quoted by Antara.

According to some reports, the boat owner initially refused to take on so many passengers, but eventually relented in the face of their demands.

Students watch over school as mud rises

Children of Besuki Village, Published by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, October 26, 2006

With the rising sea of mud in Sidoarjo, East Java, threatening their school, three students at Jawahirul Ulum Muslim boarding school volunteered to stay behind during the Idul Fitri holiday and prepare for the worst.

The three -- Syafe'i, Nanang Hadi and Firdaus -- remained at the ready to evacuate school equipment, as well as overseeing activities at the prayer room located on the campus in Besuki village.

"Our friends went home to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families, so we are in charge of all the activities here," Nanang said.

The three chose to stay behind in case the nearby sea of mud flooded the campus, forcing the evacuation of the school's head, H. Amin Muhyiddin, and his family, as well as all the school's property.

"We were worried about what could happen to our school. That's why we decided not to go home," Syafe'i said.

These fears are not without reason. Besuki village, where Jawahirul Ulum is situated, is officially located in the danger zone surrounding the site of the disaster. The boarding school, which houses about 150 students, is located about one kilometer from the gas exploration well from which the mud is pouring, and only 200 meters from one of the embankments constructed to contain the mud beside the Surabaya-Gempol turnpike.

Last month much of Besuki village was inundated by up to one meter of mud. As a result, about 900 students from the village's elementary, junior high and high schools have been unable to attend classes.

"I was on campus when the mud starting flowing in," Nanang said, adding that everyone took shelter on the second floor of the boarding school's main building.

While the majority of students and faculty moved off campus to a safer area, boarding school head Amin and his family have insisted on remaining in their home.

"Due to that incident, we decided not to go home. We have to be on the alert in case the mud floods the village again, including our school," he said.

Nanang, Syafe'i and Firdaus said they respected the decision of their friends to go home for the Idul Fitri holiday until Oct. 31.

While confident they are doing the right thing, the three boys say it was not easy to pass on the chance to spend time with family and friends back home.

"Normally I would go home to my parents in Sidoarjo to ask for forgiveness. Now all I can do is pray for them from a distance," Syafe'i said.

Amin praised the decision of the three students to stay at the school over the Idul Fitri holiday.

Despite the earlier flooding incident, Amin expressed hope the school would not be shut down by the mud. "I'm sure the mud will not inundate these buildings again ... I don't know why, I just submit to my fate," said the school leader.

Amin, 82, also said this mudflow disaster should prompt the nation to ask itself some difficult questions. "Why is nature seemingly turning on us, and what has caused all of this?"

Meanwhile, many people took advantage of the holiday to get a closer look at the disaster area. Many people driving on the Surabaya-Gempol pulled off onto the shoulder of the road and got out to gaze over the sea of mud.

Also, work was halted during Idul Fitri on the construction of ditches to channel the mud into the nearby Porong River as people celebrated the holiday.

Promoting and preserving historical texts through T-shirts

Kuncarsono, Publised by The Jakarta Post on Monday, October 30, 2006

Historical documents can be preserved in many ways, such as by keeping them in display cabinets, reinscribing them or framing them.

However, Kuncarsono Prasetyo has his own distinct way of preserving them -- printing the old texts on T-shirts.

"I want people to know that there's a uniqueness in the old texts, and one of the ways to preserve them is to print them on T-shirts," Kuncarsono, fondly called Kuncar, told The Jakarta Post.

His attraction for the old texts started when he worked as a reporter with a local publication. The former student activist was then writing about historical documents in East Java. He noticed that each document had its own character.

"I'm surprised that not many people are aware of these historical works -- such as old advertisements, stamps and coins, which have their own distinct character -- they are only stored in cabinets at the library," he said.

He said that the old advertisements and stamps, for example were well designed, through which they have now transformed into various styles.

He said that many people were unfamiliar with the faces of the country's historical figures.

"Few people in East Java recognize the faces of Javanese rulers, or even regents who played a vital role in the country's history," he said.

Not to mention local figures, who are known to people only by their names, such as Cak Durasim, Sarip Tambak Yoso, Besoet and Sakerah.

"People know overseas figures like Che Guavara and Malcolm X better, despite the fact that East Java figures like Cak Durasim, Sarip Tambak Yoso, Besoet and Sakerah, without doubt were also revolutionary figures," said Kuncar.

Cak Durasim, for example was known for his fiery poems which aroused the fighting spirit of freedom fighters against the Japanese occupying forces. He was later arrested and banished by the Japanese forces, but had successfully ignited the spirit of the Arek Surabaya freedom fighters at that time.

With Rp 10 million (US$1,100) as capital, Kuncar, together with a local artist, Junaedi, started printing the historical texts on T-shirts. Although the business was a gamble, the move was deemed timely due to the current retro and vintage fashion trend.

"People say the trend now is anything that is old, so there's no harm trying to familiarize the public with history and at the same time sell T-shirts," he quipped.

Kuncar chose old advertisements as his initial project. The ads have their own distinctive character, especially in the use of the Indonesian language, such as an ad about a rabies drug published in the Tjahaja Siang daily in 1869, that is cited as the oldest ad in the book Indonesian Advertising History published by the Association of Indonesian Advertising Agencies (PPPI). The other ad is on the Bintang Timoer Band printed in the Keng Po newspaper in 1932 and the Surabaya municipality ad printed in the Alijoem daily in 1936.

"The newspapers which had published the ads don't exist anymore, but that's what makes it more interesting," said Kuncar.

He plans to print T-shirts of old stamps and historical portraits later. "I will produce other themes when I've collected from the sales of the ad T-shirts," said Kuncar.

Kuncar allows anyone to copy his T-shirts.

"Please, do duplicate my T-shirts. I won't sue anyone because every Indonesian citizen has the right to obtain historical information," he said.

Koran revelation lights up ancient mosque

Crowds of peoples on Ampel Mosque.

Friday night saw traffic jams across several cities, compounded in part by crowds of people doing their best in the eyes of Allah, and at least trying to attend the evening tarawih prayers.

Saturday marked the first of the last 10 days of Ramadhan (though Muslims of the Muhammadiyah organization end Ramadhan on Oct. 22).

This period includes the night of Lailatul Qadar, when one's prayers and good deeds is considered more valuable than 1,000 months of good deeds.

Lailatul Qadar is also the night that Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to humankind.

Anyone who does his best is believed to be able to "sense" the arrival of Lailatul Qadar, a gift promised to those who try to live up to Islamic values and conduct, "even if you can't read the Koran", said one ustadz, or teacher.

For those in Surabaya and surrounding areas, the obligatory activity on this night is to flock in the thousands to the ancient mosque of Sunan Ampel, located in the heart of the capital (right) -- no matter if one loses their flip-flops outside the gate to the mosque compound, where the remains of Sunan Ampel lies.

Sunan Ampel is one of Java's famed nine Wali Songo -- the "saints of Islam" who first brought Islam to Java in the late 15th and early 16th centuries -- and it is believed that praying at his grave brings blessings.

The mosque was first built in 1421.

The thousands of pilgrims who converge on the mosque also provide an opportunity for commerce, as seen in the tight rows of stalls vending sarong, prayer beads and other religious accessories in the compound.

'Surabaya Post' fires chief editor

Surabaya's leading newspaper Surabaya Post has dismissed its chief editor Sirikit Syah over an internal conflict only six months after she took up the position.

The leading journalist in Surabaya was officially dismissed this month, as according to the management she was unable to meet the newspaper's vision and mission.

Sirikit confirmed the dismissal with The Jakarta Post, saying that "the termination of the one year contract was agreed to by both sides, as I was considered unable to implement the company's vision and mission".

Surabaya-born Sirikit, who received fellowships from Japan's Nihon Shimbun Kyokai (NSK) in 1988 and also from the Hubert H. Humphrey Foundation in 1994, has always been associated with the communications industry.

Starting her career as a reporter with the Surabaya Post in 1984, where she worked for six years, she later worked as a reporter for two TV stations, RCTI and SCTV. She also worked for the Post while at the same time developing Media Watch, a non-governmental organization that monitors the performance of the press.

Sirikit said the paper needed to make various breakthroughs to survive. "Unfortunately, I disagreed with the breakthrough offered by board of directors, which required journalists to look for ads as well," she said.

She said her disagreement with the proposal was the start of her differences with the paper's directors, which then led to her dismissal.

Surabaya Post was first published by the late A. Azis and his wife, the late Misoetin Agoesdina (Atoety Azis) on April 1, 1953. For many years, the first afternoon newspaper in East Java held a dominant market position within the province. Mismanagement, however, led to its closure on July 22, 2002 but the paper was resurrected in 2003 by the Forum of Employees of Surabaya Post (FKSP).

Sirikit has been replaced by president director Abdurahman J. Bawazier, who denied rumors that Surabaya Post's directors have asked the paper's journalists to seek ads.

"There is no editorial policy that requires Surabaya Post's journalists to also look for ads," he told the Post.

Since the start of her appointment, Sirikit and he had agreed to separate the business side of the paper, he asserted. Sirikit was to take charge of editorial matters, while the directors would work on business development.

"And I saw that Sirikit has given a positive contribution in that area," Abdurahman said.

When asked about her dismissal, he seemed reticent.

"There's an internal conflict that I can't expose since it would be unethical," Abdurahman said, adding that it was only a matter of a difference of opinion and the media organization maintains a good relationship with Sirikit.

He said such dismissals were common and would not affect the paper as it already had a standard system in place.

However, one of the paper's journalists, who was reluctant to be identified, said that the call for journalists to look for ads had been made even before Sirikit joined the paper. The call, he said, was not an obligation. "Most of the journalists refuse to also look for ads, especially since it's not mandatory," he said.

'Back to the Future' in Surabaya Heritage Memory

As in the Michael J. Fox film Back to the Future, a number of young people on the Surabaya Heritage Memory tour recently took an unforgettable journey through space and time.

The 50 young people were given an opportunity to explore the history of Surabaya municipality.

"It is here that one of the leaders of the Dutch troops, Gen. Mallaby, was killed in the battle that raged in November 1945. These old buildings are the silent witnesses to the event," said Amanda, when she and her entourage arrived at one monument.

Surabaya Heritage Memory is held annually by the Tourism Department of Petra Christian University in Surabaya.

While tours of historic sites are not as popular with the general public as they could be, they offer participants the chance to see the old buildings of the Heroes City.

Tour organizer Agoestinus Lis Indrianto said it was rare for outings like the memory tour to be so well attended.

Offering an example, he said, most tours of heritage sites in Jakarta were bus tours not walking tours and attracted only a handful of people.

Historically, Surabaya, the second-largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, used to be a mass of land separated from Java island. The silting process that took place in the 11th century constantly broadened this land mass by 15 meters a year so that eventually it merged with Java island.

Owing to its strategic location, this area became a trading center under the name of Ujung Galuh. When Raden Wijaya was the ruler of Majapahit Kingdom, Ujung Galuh got a new name: Churabaya, meaning the courage to resist danger. The Trowulan stone plaque made in the 13th century tells us that it was in Churabaya that Raden Wijaya was involved in a fierce battle against the Tartar troops.

Churabaya continued to develop and later became Surabaya. Again, its strategic location in the coastal area of the Java Sea attracted spice traders from various countries to come to this city.

During the Dutch colonial era, Surabaya was one of the most important cities that they had to control and therefore it was developed to cater for trading interests.

Tanjung Perak harbor, which meets Kali Mas -- a river that also flows to several other towns in East Java -- facilitated spice trading.

"The historical traces of hundreds of years of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia are what we are most interested in," said Agoestinus, adding that Jembatan Petekan (Petekan Bridge) is one of the historic sites that tourists first visit.

This bridge, located in Tanjung Perak (formerly Kalimas) harbor area, automatically opens and closes when a vessel passes. "Petekan" is derived from the Javanese dipetek (pressed), a word referring to an action made before the bridge opens and closes by itself.

Old buildings with European architectural designs are the focus of the tour. During Dutch colonial times, the agrarian law allowed the private sector to have estate land on a lease basis and put up buildings as their administrative center for a period of 75 years. The PT Perkebunan XI building is one example of such an arrangement. It is still in good condition today.

The gray empire-style pillars of the building give it an air of elegance. The domination of the golden yellow and light brown colors in the interior of the two-story building, which was designed by architects Hulswit, Cuypers and Fermot, make it look particularly imposing.

It has "dormer" windows. "Reportedly all the materials for the interior of the building were imported directly from Belgium," said Agoestinus.

The teakwood furniture was crafted using a combination of Javanese and European designs and sets off nicely a glass mosaic depicting the arrival of the Dutch in Banten. There are also indoor murals titled Labor and The Fruits of Labor, both illustrating Javanese plantation workers.

Of no less interest is another old building now used as the office of Telkom Divre V Surabaya. Built in 1915, it may be regarded as Surabaya's first modern building.

In addition, there are dozens of other heritage sites such as the Nuts-Spaarbank building, which was once the office of Nederlands Spaarbank (now Bank of Indonesia) in 1914; The House of Sampoerna, an old building now reconstructed into a cigarette factory and a tobacco warehouse owned by Sampoerna cigarette-manufacturer; the Majapahit Hotel and the Grahadi State Building.

Chinese tourist Yan Ying said she was really impressed by the tour.

"This is my first trip to Surabaya and I've found much here of interest."

Christy Widyawati, 18, gave a similar response, "I can only say one word 'great!'."

"In fact, all Surabaya residents should be familiar with the history of their city," said Amanda. "But how much longer can this city maintain its old buildings?"

As the years go by, these old buildings may crumble and their histories be forgotten while shopping centers are built all around them.

"At least, this tour stirs awareness among youngsters about the significance of preserving heritage sites," Agoestinus said.

Police, navy tangle over East Java airport

A dispute over the security details at Juanda airport in Surabaya, East Java, boiled over Thursday when some 40 Marines forced on-duty police officers from their post at the facility.

The situation at the airport remained tense Friday, as dozens of fully armed Marines continued to control the police post, barring anyone from entering the area.

It is unclear what prompted the Marines to act on Thursday, when they arrived at the airport in three trucks and a patrol car and demanded the police officers clear out from their post.

"They ordered the police officers to leave by 5 p.m. without saying why," a source told The Jakarta Post. The outnumbered police officers offered no resistance.

There has been an ongoing debate over who has the authority to provide security at the airport.

The police insist the airport is under their authority, although it is considered a vital facility. The Navy claims the airport falls under its authority, as outlined in a 2004 presidential decree on securing vital facilities.

Juanda was originally a Navy airport built in 1951, but it became a commercial airport in 1971. PT Angkasa Pura was appointed to manage Juanda, but the Navy was allowed to continue using the facility for military flights.

When contacted Friday, East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Herman Soerjadi Soemawireja said the actions of the Marines were unnecessary because the matter could be resolved through dialog.

He said the police had received permission from the Transportation Ministry and Angkasa Pura to secure the airport.

"We were even given a plot of land to set up the police office," Herman said.

He acknowledged the Navy was in charge of securing vital facilities in the country, such as military headquarters and bases, but Juanda was an exception because in was a commercial airport as well as a hub for military flights.

Citing examples, the officer said Halim Perdana Kusuma airport in Jakarta is a military airport and under the Navy's authority, while Soekarno-Hatta airport is secured by the police.

"Juanda airport is a mix (of both Halim and Soekarno-Hatta airports). We'll check who is in charge of its security," Herman said.

At commercial airports, he said, police handle criminal cases such as smuggling. "But if there's a hijacking case, then the Navy should take the lead (in responding) while the police will be in charge of the investigation," he said.

In response to the dispute, a spokesman for the Navy's Eastern Fleet, Lt. Col. Tony Syaiful, said the police had "offended" the Navy by building an office on the airport's grounds.

"Juanda airport belongs to the Navy according to the 2004 presidential decree," he told the Post.

He said the Transportation Ministry and Angkasa Pura did not understand the matter, which is why they granted the police land to build an office.

East Java court releases boys tried for rape

Four boys accused of raping a female classmate were found guilty Tuesday by the Trenggalek District Court of committing obscene acts with an underage child.

The panel of judges hearing the case in the East Java town ordered the boys returned to the custody of their parents. The judges also asked officials from Kediri Penitentiary and the Trenggalek Prosecutor's Office to monitor the boys until their 18th birthday.

Presiding judge Lilik Nuraeni said the verdict was based on the 2003 Child Protection Law, and took into account the age of the four boys, all elementary school students, and their parents' ability to care for them and monitor their behavior.

The four were charged with raping a female classmate in March. The victim, a fellow student at an elementary school in Trenggalek, was allegedly raped by the four boys on several occasions. The boys, one aged 12 the others 11, have been held at an adult prison in Trenggalek since June 28 while awaiting trial.

The victim has since been moved to a relative's house. None of her relatives attended the trial session Tuesday.

Following the verdict, Nonot Soeryono, a coordinator with the Surabaya Children's Crisis Center, which is part of the non-governmental organization Plan Surabaya Indonesia, said the court should have dismissed all charges against the defendants.

He said the prosecution failed to prove the rape ever occurred.

"The charges should have been dropped and the four boys completely exonerated because the prosecution failed to prove its case," Nonot told The Jakarta Post.

He feared the boys would be stigmatized by the court proceedings, which he claimed were unnecessary.

"It will be a long rehabilitation process that could traumatize the boys. Is that what the court really wants?" he said.

He said the crisis center, which provided legal assistance for the defendants, would consider the court's verdict before deciding what action, if any, it would take.

A project officer at the Children In Need Special Protection Project, Suratman, said that although the verdict was relatively light, the court's lack of perspective in dealing with child defendants should be protested.

"Since they are children, the state should have held their parents responsible. If parents can't take care of their children, they should be held responsible," he said.

This was not the first criminal trial involving a child defendant in an adult court. In March, 8-year-old Muhammad "Raju" Azwar was tried in an adult court in Langkat regency, North Sumatra.

Raju's trial was heavily criticized by children's rights groups, which called it inhumane and unnecessary.

The court found Raju guilty of assaulting Armansyah, 14, and returned him to his parents' custody. Raju was also detained in an adult prison before his trial.

Hot mud gushes, runs rings around Sidoarjo

The mudflow disaster in Porong, Sidoarjo, East Java, has implicated many parties, not only Lapindo and the Bakrie family, but also the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama and some media companies. The Jakarta Post's Riyadi Suparno, assisted by our journalists in East Java Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho, investigated the intricate relationship of those parties in the handling of the disaster. What follows are their reports.

The million dollar question is: which company has been the most talked about in East Java over the past two months? The answer is Lapindo Brantas Inc., a company controlled by the Bakrie family. This oil and gas company became so popular -- or unpopular -- by triggering the uncontrolled gushing of hot mud in Porong, Sidoarjo, East Java.

The mudflow, which began slowly on May 29 -- which is why the company initially played it down -- is becoming bigger each day. It now spouts 50,000 cubic meters of hot mud a day, submerging rice fields and four villages, and making 10,000 villagers homeless.

The problem grew when the mud submerged the turnpike linking Surabaya and the eastern part of East Java. The closure of the turnpike caused massive traffic jams, delaying travel and deliveries.

When the turnpike was elevated, and protected with sand-and-stone walls, the mud breached the walls in other areas, flooding more villages, and even closing the Porong main road and railway link.

The villagers have nothing kind to say about Lapindo. They spell out their displeasure for everyone to see in the graffiti on their walls, through demonstrations and in some cases by forcefully breaching the walls holding back the mud.

They have also demonstrated on the main street of Porong, demanding that Lapindo's license be revoked and its executives prosecuted.

Initially, Lapindo claimed it was not responsible for the mudflow because the mud was not gushing out from its wells. However, Lapindo's partner in the Brantas block accused Lapindo of "gross negligence" for not setting casing on at the depth of 8,500 feet at Banjar Panji I well, where the mudflow originated.

Although the exact cause of the mudflow is not yet known, all parties are pointing the finger at Lapindo. The police were quick to question those involved in the drilling activities that caused the uncontrolled mudflow, and named nine people suspects.

They include Imam Agustino, the president of Lapindo; Nur Rochmat Sawulo, drilling share service vice president of PT Energi Mega Persada, a shareholder in Lapindo; and Yenny Nawawi, the president of PT Medici Citra Nusa, a contractor of Lapindo. The other six are drilling executive staff. All suspects could face between five and 15 years' jail if found guilty. But the police stopped there. No progress has been reported.

In addition, a number of organizations have planned to launch a class action against Lapindo, on behalf of the victims. They include the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and the East Java office of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi).

But the NU is not entirely sure it will go ahead with the class action because, according to an NU activist, NU leaders have received money from the Bakrie family, which essentially owns Lapindo. (See sidebar: NU dragged into the mudflow dilemma).

"Just call it a bad day for us. This is indeed the risk that any drilling entails," Imam Agustino said recently, referring to the May 29 accident.

Lapindo itself has been trying hard to solve the multifaceted problems. The company has spent billions of rupiah on efforts to stop the mudflow, manage the growing amount of mud and to compensate the victims.

It established three teams to handle the problems. The first team, led by Lapindo itself, is trying to find ways to stop the mud gushing. Despite its efforts, however, it has not been able to stop the mudflow. (See sidebar: No end in sight to stop the mud gushing).

The second team, led by the State Ministry for the Environment, is dealing with the management of the hot mud, which keeps increasing every day. The team has decided to separate the water from the solid substances in the mud, treat the water and dump it in the sea. As for the solid substances, no decision has been made. (See sidebar: What to do with the mounting sludge).

The third team, led by the Sidoarjo administration, is addressing social problems, including providing shelter for the victims, distributing assistance and finding permanent solutions for the victims, either by relocating them to safer places or compensating them for their losses so they can rebuild their lives.

To contain the impacts of the disaster, Lapindo is spreading money among a number of institutions, including the local military to help build the embankment and evacuate the victims and the Sidoarjo administration which is trying to meet victims' immediate needs as well as financing needs of groups that are assisting the victims.

As things progress, however, the money has worked its way in to the pockets of some environmental activists and non-governmental organizations in the regency, so that they will be more cooperative and not so "vocal," according to one activist.

"They are operating so cleverly, leaving no stone unturned. Most parties will get assistance so that they will not be so vocal against Lapindo," said environmental activist Satrijo Wiweko.

He suspected that some media in East Java had also received "assistance" so that their reports would not be too hard on Lapindo and local administrations.

Lapindo's East Java general manager Rawindra denied the accusation, saying that it worked in cooperation with all parties, with the Sidoarjo administration as the central point of coordination.

Rawindra refused to respond to the accusations, saying that the company would rather focus its attention on helping the victims. To anticipate the coming of the fasting month, the company is helping the victims relocate from Porong market, where they have been living for the past two months, to rented houses.

The company has given each family Rp 5 million for two years' rent and Rp 500,000 for moving costs, with a Rp 300,000 monthly food allowance per head per month for the next six months.

A number of villagers, however, describe the compensation as inadequate. Mahmudah, Renokenongo's village chief, acknowledged that almost half of the mudflow victims in his area had refused the allowances.

"They have not yet accepted the money and I don't blame them because it's their right to decide," Mahmudah told The Jakarta Post.

Some of those turning down the compensation have staged a protest at the Pasar Baru refugee camp and a demonstration on Porong's main road. "Many things go beyond the value of money, such as the threat hanging over our heads that the hot mud could burst out anytime and flood our homes," said a refugee in a protest rally.

Tough slog for students in muddy Sidoardjo

Windiarti Rahayu is not afraid of hard work but lately her enthusiasm for school has been waning. In fact, the 13-year-old student at SMPN 2 Porong junior high school in Sidoarjo, East Java, has made a habit of dropping off in class and passing in late homework.

"I feel sleepy all the time since we were forced to move out of our school because of the mudflow," she told The Jakarta Post on Monday. The hot mudflow, which gushed out of Lapindo Brantas Inc. gas prospecting site, has continued to submerge dozens of houses, hectares of rice fields, several factories and schools since the problem began on May 29.

From a distance, only the roof of the junior high school is visible beyond the mudflow, which has reached a height of six meters. The school closed in mid-June after all 18 of its classrooms were submerged.

Its students are now studying three kilometers away, at SDN Renokenongo elementary school. However, with three students to a desk, it is clear the school is not really big enough to accommodate the junior high school's 694 students.

Information technology and English classes have been canceled, for the time being, because of the shortage of space and facilities. "I am trying hard to stay focused but the situation doesn't inspire us to work," Windiarti said.

She said she could not study or do her homework as she was living in a shelter at Porong market. "We can't study because it's so crowded and there's barely enough light to see. I can't get through my homework and the teacher punishes me. That's just the way it is now."

She returned briefly to her home in Siring village but quickly left again for the shelter after a temporary pond overflowed, inundating her house and sweeping away her books. Now, Windiarti makes do with sharing friends' books.

The junior high school's principal, Kayis, said teachers had been doing all they could to limit disruptions to the children's education. He said some teachers were spending a lot more on transportation to reach the elementary school.

"We've asked Lapindo to build us a new school. It's not safe here. The mudflow is still threatening the surrounding areas."

Three other elementary schools in Porong -- SDN Siring 1 and 2, which have more than 700 students in total; and SDN Kedungbendo 2, which has 300 students -- have also been affected by the mudflows.

When one of the ponds that was built to retain the mudflow in Jatirejo village broke apart Thursday, the schools sent students home for two days.

Classes resumed at that school Monday, but Siring's students had to move out of their school, while students at Kedungbendo remained, despite having to withstand the foul smell emanating from the mudflow.

East Java Education Council chairman Dhaniel Rosyid said Lapindo should build a new school, located far from the mudflows. "This is Lapindo's responsibility. Education should top its priorities, apart from working to stop the mudflow and relocate residents."

He urged the central government to make regulations that prohibited mining activities near residential areas and schools.

Lapindo hires pros to clean up its image

Lapindo Brantas Inc., a unit under the Bakrie family, has responded to the unprecedented ecological disaster originating from its gas well by going on a public relations charm offensive aimed at cleaning up its image.

For the most part, the company's efforts seem to have paid off. In the first month of the disaster in Sidoarjo, Lapindo was receiving most of the blame for the mudflow. Both the media and the public were accusing the company of bringing misery to thousands of people with its drilling activities.

Seemingly sealing the company's fate, several of its executives were named as suspects by the police for negligence leading to the mudflow.

However, as the disaster entered its second month a different image of Lapindo was being projected, at least in the media. Now Lapindo was being painted as a responsible company that was taking care of the victims of the mudflow and providing them with compensation, all the while making every effort to stem the flow of mud.

This drastic change no doubt has much to do with the company's hiring of professional image builders and the strong political clout of its main shareholder, a company linked to the Bakrie family, including Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie.

"If Lapindo had no political clout, it would have been finished in a matter of weeks because of this mudflow brouhaha," said Henry Subiyakto, a lecturer at Airlangga University in Surabaya and also head of the Surabaya Media Consumer Foundation.

Among the image specialists hired by Lapindo, or its shareholder, are several former journalists and media specialists. Henry says he was approached about joining the team responsible for improving Lapindo's image and that of the Bakrie family.

This team of professionals has made a concerted effort to polish Lapindo's image, lobbying owners of media companies in East Java and journalists covering the mudflow story, and also helping set up a media center in Sidoarjo town hall.

The media center provides daily updates about the handling of the mudflow and its victims. It must be said that the center is fairly objective, covering demonstrations by victims and their demands for compensation.

The center provides free Internet access, telephone use and printing and photocopying facilities for members of the media. Not only that, according to one source, the media center also provides a "supplemental income" for journalists.

Lapindo denied that it is financing the media center. But one source said that while the company did not finance the center directly, it channeled the money through the local government.

East Java Information and Communication Agency (Infokom) head Suwanto acknowledged the role of Lapindo in the establishment of the media center, but denied that the company provided any financial support for its operation.

"Lapindo only provides photocopy machines, paper and lunch. Everything else is financed by Infokom East Java," Suwanto told The Jakarta Post. He added that the center was established on a direct order from East Java Governor Imam Utomo.

Victims can't afford to forget mud

"The dam's breaking... it's collapsing...," a resident of Siring, Porong, Sidoarjo, shouted as he noticed hot mud flowing toward his house last week.

Hundreds of people living near the walls holding back the mudflow were sent scurrying in fear to Porong's main road, effectively blocking the road linking Surabaya and the eastern part of East Java.

Dressed in rags and mud stained, villagers of all ages raced to reach the road, seen as a safe mud-free place, clutching anything worth salvaging like important documents, school uniforms and kitchen utensils. Parents carried their children on their backs, willing them to stay calm.

The walls, which are holding back more than four million cubic meters of mud have been collapsing here and there as they are not strong enough to contain the increasing amount of mud, estimated at an additional 50,000 cu m per day.

Damage to the walls has panicked the community living near the huge mud ponds, which now cover 180 hectares, and may soon double to 360 hectares.

Locals are worried about their safety and anxious over not only blistered skin due to the heat of the mud, which has reached 60 degrees centigrade, but also damaged property resulting from hot mud inundation.

"All we can do now is to save ourselves and our most prized belongings. We would have carried our whole house had we been able to pull it up," said Suwarno, a Siring villager.

Though he originally refused to take refuge because he was confident in the capabilities of the joint team handling the mudflow, doubt began to set in when he saw the walls were higher than his house. Then the dam started cracking and hot mud flowed into Siring.

There was also an atmosphere of fear in the villages of Jatirejo, Ronokenongo and Kedungbendo as their dams developed fissures. In Jatirejo, the dark gray mud spread extensively over places previously unaffected. Locals were particularly worried when it crept over the railway tracks running through the village. "The mud could cause a train accident," Jatirejo villager Haryadi pointed out.

In Jatirejo, dozens of cows owned by the Agil Hasan Al Syadili Islamic boarding school had to be evacuated for fear that dehydration would kill them.

"The cows, which were one of the school's main income sources can't be milked for the moment," school principal Gus Maksum Zubair told The Jakarta Post. The school, which has about 200 students, also found its 2.5 hectares of paddy fields flooded by hot mud.

"Our students have been sent home for a while. Some staff members have stayed behind to take care of the school," Gus Maksum said.

More than 9,000 displaced people from the four inundated villages are now being accommodated in Pasar Baru Porong, Sidoarjo, five kilometers from the hot mud source.

The neatly arranged barracks, originally designed as a public market and terminal, are increasingly packed with the growing number of refugees moving in from mud covered areas.

The 9,000 refugees have to share 282 kiosks in Pasar Baru, each measuring four by six meters with five families and their possessions, separated from one another only by curtains.

To shower, they have to wait their turn as there are only 109 bathrooms available.

This situation has gone from bad to worse as there is no certainty about the fate of the mudflow victims, while the mud continues gushing, ruining all that it touches.

Mudflow victims demand compensation

MUD SLINGING: Villagers from Kedung Bendo, Sidoarjo, East Java, protest in front of the Sidoarjo meeting hall Tuesday about the inundation of their homes by massive amounts of mud from a mudflow accident. About 3,000 demonstrators demanded Lapindo Brantas Inc. compensate them for the loss of their homes, and urged the local government to ensure their welfare ahead of the rainy season.

Thousands of people displaced by the mudflow disaster in East Java held protests in two affected areas Tuesday to demand compensation commensurate with their losses.

Several protesters showed their frustration by covering themselves in the mud that has gushed from an exploration well accident in Sidoarjo regency since May 29.

"We're not eels which can live in mud," said a villager of Kedung Bendo, Hadi Purnomo, one of around 3,000 people rallying near the local administration building.

"We're humans with a right to live. Our children need to go to school and live in peace."

The turnpike connecting the provincial capital of Surabaya to Gempol town was closed for several minutes when protesters from the Besuki area blocked traffic. Alternating lanes are being closed for the ongoing work of raising two kilometers of the worst-hit section to prevent mud flowing onto the turnpike.

The company which operates the well, Lapindo Brantas Inc., has begun to distribute compensation to affected families, consisting of Rp 5 million (US$551.5) for rent for two years, Rp 500,000 for moving costs and Rp 300,000 per head per month. Many residents have rejected the offer as inadequate for their needs.

On Tuesday, East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Herman Surjadi Sumawiredja said the deployment of police personnel in affected areas was a "persuasive" action to prevent outbreaks of violence among residents. "We're all suffering here," he said.

Protests have taken place almost on a daily basis. On Tuesday demonstrators reiterated accusations that the local authorities were being bribed by Lapindo, partly owned by the family of Aburizal Bakrie, who is the coordinating minister for the people's welfare.

"The mud will stop when corruption stops in the bureaucracy," one of the posters said.

"I am not a puppet of Lapindo," Sidoarjo deputy regent Saiful Illah assured residents at the legislative council hall. "In the name of Allah I have not committed corruption.

"I could be hit by a car if I'm lying. Everything I'm doing is for the victims."

He added the regency would give full support to residents if they wished to sue Lapindo.

"We're now prioritizing prevention measures before the rainy season comes (forecast for November) by building disposal systems and strengthening the ponds."

Lapindo is paying for all contingency measures, such as the preparation of a new dam to accomodate the daily increase of the mudflow, estimated to reach at least 4 million cubic meters by the end of the month.

Victims are divided about the appropriate measures. Thousands have demanded an immediate end to the inundation of populated areas by diverting the untreated mud into the sea. However, the fishing community has raised concerns about the future of thousands of shrimp farms in Sidoarjo.