House speaker: Lapindo mudflow victims need compensation soon

Jakarta, NU Online
House Speaker Agung Laksono said that he appreciated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s attention to settling the Lapindo mudflow victims` problems by visiting and taking office in the mudflow location for three days but the important thing for the victims was the settlement of the compensation problem.

"The situation I saw there is really saddening," he said at the House of Representatives (DPR) building commenting on the protracted compensation problem for victims of the Lapindo mudflow which had been taking place for over one year.<>

He said that he appreciated the president`s attention who even stayed for three days in office in the area of the mudflow mining site. But what was important was that how the government to settle the compensation and paid it to the victims soon.

"We hope that the compensation which had been waited for by the victims for over a year would be paid soon," he was quoted by Antara news agency.

Agung said that if PT Lapindo Brantas had no money it would be better for it to say it frankly to the government and the DPR.

"If the amount of the compensation could be agreed by the DPR and the government is able to bail it out, then the victims can received the compensations," he added.

He said that if the funds used to bail out the compensation were taken from the state budget, it should be reported to the DPR.

In the meantime, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday the government would not lend money for paying compensations to the victims of mudflow from PT Lapindo Brantas operations in Porong, Sidoarjo, East Java.

"There has indeed been an idea of the government to lend money, but would not be necessary, because PT Lapindo Brantas is able to make the payments," he said at a press conference after a meeting to discuss the handling of the disaster. (dar)