Police chief asks all parties to understand forced evacuation

Kediri, NU Online
National Police Chief Gen Sutanto has called on all parties to understand the forced evacuation by armed personnel of people living in the vicinity of erupting Mount Kelud in East Java.

"All parties should understand the effort because the real situation in the areas around the volcano required the armed personnel do so," Sutanto said as he visited the evacuees at Segaran Elementary school in Wates, Kediri, on Friday.<>

Thousands of people living in high danger zones around Mt Kelud in Ngancar, Kediri district, were evacuated since last Tuesday.

The evacuation was initiated after the alert status of the 1,731-meter-high volcano was raised from third to fourth level since 5.25 p.m. West Indonesia Time.

Ngancar subdistrict chief Budi Wahono said that 3,212 residents of Sugihwaras village whose homes were located only 10 km from the crater had been evacuated in 36 trucks.

Meanwhile, 3,215 residents of Sempu village had also been taken in 20 trucks to Segaran village in Wates subdistrict.

To prevent possible looting of the houses abandoned by their owners, the National Police chief said, a number of police personnel had been stationed there but were instructed not to shoot looters on sight.

"Anybody who is found committing a criminal act should not be shot on sight but treated in accordance with existing law," Sutanto was qouted by Antara news agency as saying, adding that around 966 Kediri district police personnel had been mobilized to ensure security.

The National Police chief also said he was satisfied with the way in which the National Defense Forces (TNI), police personnel and Kediri district administration officials had managed the evacuation.

At the refugee camps in Segaran village, Sutanto held a dialog with refugees from Sempu and Ngancar villages before proceeding to other refugee sites in Tawang village. (dar)