An ambitious campaign to increase early detection and halve the number of children under six-years suffering dental cavities by 2010 was launched by the government Thursday.
The announcement was made in line with the 29th Asia Pacific Dental Congress, a five-day event being held in Jakarta until April 29.
Indonesian health ministry staff member Edy Nadial Roesdal said dental problems can cause other serious illnesses including heart disease and diabetes.
Speaking at the press conference, Edy said the most recent data available showed 14 percent of all children in Indonesia were free of cavities in 1995.
In 2006 there were 28 million children under the age of six in Indonesia.
"We are promoting preventative care in this age group through hospitals, in community health centers and in schools," he said.
Edy also acknowledged the inequality in distribution of dental medical workers.
"There is one dentist for every three community health centers nationwide -- but there are 600 dental specialists working in cities and populated urban areas.
"There should be at least one dentist in each of our health centers." But Edy said there was no specific allocation for oral health at the health ministry, which this year received a total budget of more than Rp 17 trillion (US$1.9 billion).
In Jakarta this week there are 1,500 participants attending the international conference, including dentists from 40 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The congress is being held by the International Dentist Federation, a French-based organisation for dentist associations from more than 60 countries.
Federation president Michele Aerden said 95 percent of oral diseases were avoidable through early detection.
But oral diseases are often neglected, she said.
"How can you promote successful economic development if your people are ill or dying due to poor oral health," Michele said.
"Health is so important. And there is no general health without oral health." (07)
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) is launching a book on mountainous flora in Java in an attempt to raise awareness of the richness of the country's biodiversity and to provide a reference for environmental and biological studies.
The newly-published book is an Indonesian language translation of The Mountain Flora of Java, written by Dutch botanist C.C.G.J. van Steenis. It was first published by E.J. Brill in Leiden, the Netherlands, in 1972.
"As a researcher, ever since I was at university, I viewed this book as a special text due to its contents, pictures and spirit. Even until now, it is important to and admired by many people, though the number of volumes is very limited. At a time when biodiversity is degrading, this book is becoming even more important," the head of LIPI's Biological Research Center, Dedy Darnaedi, told reporters at the book's launching, Thursday.
"This book is not only scientific but also inspiring to many people. My generation has an obligation to make this book widely read by Indonesians. I hope it can raise awareness of the richness of our biodiversity," Dedy said.
Initially intended as a guide for explorers and nature lovers, the book was saturated with pictures of 456 species of plants, all drawn by the late Sundanese artists Amir Hamzah and Moehammad Toha. The water-color illustrations were painted during their careers as painters at the Bogor Botanical Garden between 1927 and 1949.
"This is heritage for us. As many as 456 species of mountainous plants have been perfectly captured, from both an aesthetic and scientific point of view. And this happened when some of us were not even born yet," said Jeny Kartawinata, the book's Indonesian translator.
She said the book addressed the relationship between flora and volcanoes, Java's climate, the volcanology of Java in relation to the origins of mountains, the vegetation there and the benefits this brings to the local people.
"Everything related to volcanoes and the characteristics of a volcanic environment is explained in detail, but in a simple and clear way. As a non-expert, you can read the book without intellectual barriers," Jeny said.
The translator was drawn to working on the book in 1995 by its content. It was not until 2005, however, that she began seriously translating the text.
Jeny was aided by two ecologists, Tukirin Partomihardjo and Kuswata Kartawinata, and a taxonomist, Elizabeth Widjaja, who proof read the translated text.
"I have learned very much from the book just because I read the translation. Most students and experts ... usually take only a few pages to read in relation to our purposes," Tukiran said, adding that he estimated the book covered 50-60 percent of the flora on Java, but that some of it was now endangered.
"This is a masterpiece on the flora of Java. No other book has such complete descriptions and pictures," said Elizabeth Widjaja.
Publisher E.J. Brill has granted LIPI the copyright for the book's Indonesian edition. Funds totaling US$12,500 were provided by the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the printing of 1,000 copies.
The 259-page Indonesian version is published by Grafika Desa Putra. All of its pictures are printed on a scale of 1:1, the same size as in the original version. (02)
The newly-published book is an Indonesian language translation of The Mountain Flora of Java, written by Dutch botanist C.C.G.J. van Steenis. It was first published by E.J. Brill in Leiden, the Netherlands, in 1972.
"As a researcher, ever since I was at university, I viewed this book as a special text due to its contents, pictures and spirit. Even until now, it is important to and admired by many people, though the number of volumes is very limited. At a time when biodiversity is degrading, this book is becoming even more important," the head of LIPI's Biological Research Center, Dedy Darnaedi, told reporters at the book's launching, Thursday.
"This book is not only scientific but also inspiring to many people. My generation has an obligation to make this book widely read by Indonesians. I hope it can raise awareness of the richness of our biodiversity," Dedy said.
Initially intended as a guide for explorers and nature lovers, the book was saturated with pictures of 456 species of plants, all drawn by the late Sundanese artists Amir Hamzah and Moehammad Toha. The water-color illustrations were painted during their careers as painters at the Bogor Botanical Garden between 1927 and 1949.
"This is heritage for us. As many as 456 species of mountainous plants have been perfectly captured, from both an aesthetic and scientific point of view. And this happened when some of us were not even born yet," said Jeny Kartawinata, the book's Indonesian translator.
She said the book addressed the relationship between flora and volcanoes, Java's climate, the volcanology of Java in relation to the origins of mountains, the vegetation there and the benefits this brings to the local people.
"Everything related to volcanoes and the characteristics of a volcanic environment is explained in detail, but in a simple and clear way. As a non-expert, you can read the book without intellectual barriers," Jeny said.
The translator was drawn to working on the book in 1995 by its content. It was not until 2005, however, that she began seriously translating the text.
Jeny was aided by two ecologists, Tukirin Partomihardjo and Kuswata Kartawinata, and a taxonomist, Elizabeth Widjaja, who proof read the translated text.
"I have learned very much from the book just because I read the translation. Most students and experts ... usually take only a few pages to read in relation to our purposes," Tukiran said, adding that he estimated the book covered 50-60 percent of the flora on Java, but that some of it was now endangered.
"This is a masterpiece on the flora of Java. No other book has such complete descriptions and pictures," said Elizabeth Widjaja.
Publisher E.J. Brill has granted LIPI the copyright for the book's Indonesian edition. Funds totaling US$12,500 were provided by the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the printing of 1,000 copies.
The 259-page Indonesian version is published by Grafika Desa Putra. All of its pictures are printed on a scale of 1:1, the same size as in the original version. (02)
Environmental issues have remained on the back burner despite changes of government and more frequent natural disasters that have inflicted trillions of rupiah in losses and led to thousands of deaths, critics commemorating Earth Day highlighted at a discussion Thursday.
Emil Salim, former state minister for the environment and now a presidential advisor on the issue, said the few existing environmental laws in Indonesia were "practically ineffective".
"As long as we have a government that can't fathom the idea of green economics and that the environment itself is priceless compared to anything with tangible value, nothing is going to come out of having dozens of environmental laws," he said.
Environmental issues, Emil said, had lost out to business, macroeconomics and politics under both past and current government administrations. He called for consistency from civil groups to balance the always-contradicting approaches of businesspeople, politicians and green activists on environmental matters.
Emil noted that maintaining a green, healthy environment carried definite financial benefits, but that these might not be calculable in terms of trade or exports.
"If a flashflood strikes Jakarta and the governor says it costs some trillions (of rupiah), that means that a green environment, which could keep flooding away, is worth that many trillions despite not seeing it on a clear day," Emil said.
Environmental observer Hariadi Kartodihardjo, who recently released a book titled Behind Deforestation and Disasters, shares Emil's view that environmental issues are not appealing to politicians when on the campaign trail and that as a result were scarcely reflected in their policies.
"It's always about commodities and how much money is coming in ... what the macroeconomic condition is. This calls for redefining," he said.
Legislator Tjatur Sapto Edy from the House of Representatives Commission VII on the environment and mining highlighted that the government has yet to assign a representative to deliberate a bill submitted to the presidential office in 2000 on the management of natural resources.
"None of the government's nine prioritized works planned for both this year and next year touch on environmental issues," he said.
He also lamented that the government has no official record of the abundance of Indonesia's natural resources so as to make exploration and exploitation by foreign firms more beneficial for the country.
"To choose an example, the gold mining in Papua by Freeport. I've asked previous and current ministers and none of them know exactly how much reserves we have or their value. Freeport provides the information, which these ministers use as data," said Tjatur.
Indonesia has suffered from a string of natural disasters, the frequency of which has continued to increase over the past few years. These events have included flashfloods, landslides and forest fires.
With deforestation increasing at an unprecedented rate -- now at 2.4 million hectares per year -- government efforts to protect trees have been criticized as half-hearted.
The government is also seen as having failed to take advantage of the newly-ratified Kyoto Protocol by proposing environmental preservation projects to industrialized countries as part of their obligation to reduce their carbon emissions.
Emil Salim, former state minister for the environment and now a presidential advisor on the issue, said the few existing environmental laws in Indonesia were "practically ineffective".
"As long as we have a government that can't fathom the idea of green economics and that the environment itself is priceless compared to anything with tangible value, nothing is going to come out of having dozens of environmental laws," he said.
Environmental issues, Emil said, had lost out to business, macroeconomics and politics under both past and current government administrations. He called for consistency from civil groups to balance the always-contradicting approaches of businesspeople, politicians and green activists on environmental matters.
Emil noted that maintaining a green, healthy environment carried definite financial benefits, but that these might not be calculable in terms of trade or exports.
"If a flashflood strikes Jakarta and the governor says it costs some trillions (of rupiah), that means that a green environment, which could keep flooding away, is worth that many trillions despite not seeing it on a clear day," Emil said.
Environmental observer Hariadi Kartodihardjo, who recently released a book titled Behind Deforestation and Disasters, shares Emil's view that environmental issues are not appealing to politicians when on the campaign trail and that as a result were scarcely reflected in their policies.
"It's always about commodities and how much money is coming in ... what the macroeconomic condition is. This calls for redefining," he said.
Legislator Tjatur Sapto Edy from the House of Representatives Commission VII on the environment and mining highlighted that the government has yet to assign a representative to deliberate a bill submitted to the presidential office in 2000 on the management of natural resources.
"None of the government's nine prioritized works planned for both this year and next year touch on environmental issues," he said.
He also lamented that the government has no official record of the abundance of Indonesia's natural resources so as to make exploration and exploitation by foreign firms more beneficial for the country.
"To choose an example, the gold mining in Papua by Freeport. I've asked previous and current ministers and none of them know exactly how much reserves we have or their value. Freeport provides the information, which these ministers use as data," said Tjatur.
Indonesia has suffered from a string of natural disasters, the frequency of which has continued to increase over the past few years. These events have included flashfloods, landslides and forest fires.
With deforestation increasing at an unprecedented rate -- now at 2.4 million hectares per year -- government efforts to protect trees have been criticized as half-hearted.
The government is also seen as having failed to take advantage of the newly-ratified Kyoto Protocol by proposing environmental preservation projects to industrialized countries as part of their obligation to reduce their carbon emissions.
Poaching threatens Sumatran tigers
Local and foreign researchers have warned that the Sumatran tiger may become extinct within the next 10 years due to rampant poaching and illegal trade.
According to a survey by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, conducted in 22 cities across seven Indonesian provinces in 2006, nearly every antique shop, traditional medicine counter and animal market sold souvenirs, jewelry and potions made from parts of the endangered animal.
TRAFFIC regional program officer, Chris R. Shepherd, said they had found 42 claws, 37 fangs, two whiskers, whole tiger pelts or pieces, and 32 kilograms of tiger bones.
He said most of the traders claimed they acquired the tiger parts from Aceh.
He added that many poachers had turned the Gunung Leuser National Park in Aceh into a place to hunt Sumatran tigers.
"Every year some 52 Sumatran tigers are poached for their parts from various national parks in Sumatra, including the Leuser Ecosystem Zone, to meet the demands of the overseas market," Shepherd said at a recent workshop on Eliminating Sumatran Tiger Trade, organized jointly by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), North Sumatra Forestry Office and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia in Medan.
He said the poaching rate of Sumatran tigers was very high, raising fears that the species could become extinct over the next 10 years if concerted efforts were not made by law enforcement agencies.
"There are only about 400 Sumatran tigers living in the wild now. Their numbers will diminish in five to 10 years' time if poaching is not immediately stopped," he said. The 400 tigers are surviving in the national parks of Sumatra.
Leuser International Foundation (LIF) monitoring officer, Rudi H. Putra, estimated there were around 150 tigers left in the Leuser Ecosystem Zone (KEL). This figure was based on observation using camera traps in six KEL locations, encompassing Southeast Aceh and Aceh Tamiang regencies as well as Langkat regency in North Sumatra.
Rudi said LIF also carried out monthly routine field surveys in the entire KEL area.
He said the tiger population in Leuser area was declining each year due to poaching. "We estimate that there are around 10 tigers killed by poachers each year, most of which are sold in Medan and later traded overseas," said Rudi.
Rudi said that a stuffed Sumatran tiger could fetch Rp 50 million (US$5,500) locally and up to Rp 100 million in Medan.
"The price of a tiger pelt is around Rp 12 million, while its bones are sold for Rp 1 million a kilogram. These prices climb twice as high by the time they reach Medan," Rudi told The Jakarta Post.
Shepherd said Medan was the only exit point for the illegal trade of Sumatran tigers to Malaysia, Singapore, China, Korea and Taiwan.
"The sale of Sumatran tigers and their organs overseas goes through Medan. They are usually exported by sea, especially through Tanjung Balai Port, while shipments via air and land are rare," he said. In July 2005, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia found 140 kilograms of Sumatran tiger bones and 24 skulls in Taiwan, which had been exported from Medan via Jakarta.
Shepherd said the illegal trade in Sumatran tigers was run by a syndicate involving local and overseas members.
He said it was likely security personnel were involved in the syndicate. "I think a number of security personnel are involved, but we have never found evidence to support this."
The head of the Natural Resources Conservation Center in North Sumatra, Djati Witjaksono Hadi, said his office had received information regarding the illegal trade of Sumatran tigers in Medan.
Djati said they would conduct operations in key locations in the trade of the animal.
"We all know where Sumatran tigers are traded in Medan," he said.
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
According to a survey by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, conducted in 22 cities across seven Indonesian provinces in 2006, nearly every antique shop, traditional medicine counter and animal market sold souvenirs, jewelry and potions made from parts of the endangered animal.
TRAFFIC regional program officer, Chris R. Shepherd, said they had found 42 claws, 37 fangs, two whiskers, whole tiger pelts or pieces, and 32 kilograms of tiger bones.
He said most of the traders claimed they acquired the tiger parts from Aceh.
He added that many poachers had turned the Gunung Leuser National Park in Aceh into a place to hunt Sumatran tigers.
"Every year some 52 Sumatran tigers are poached for their parts from various national parks in Sumatra, including the Leuser Ecosystem Zone, to meet the demands of the overseas market," Shepherd said at a recent workshop on Eliminating Sumatran Tiger Trade, organized jointly by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), North Sumatra Forestry Office and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia in Medan.
He said the poaching rate of Sumatran tigers was very high, raising fears that the species could become extinct over the next 10 years if concerted efforts were not made by law enforcement agencies.
"There are only about 400 Sumatran tigers living in the wild now. Their numbers will diminish in five to 10 years' time if poaching is not immediately stopped," he said. The 400 tigers are surviving in the national parks of Sumatra.
Leuser International Foundation (LIF) monitoring officer, Rudi H. Putra, estimated there were around 150 tigers left in the Leuser Ecosystem Zone (KEL). This figure was based on observation using camera traps in six KEL locations, encompassing Southeast Aceh and Aceh Tamiang regencies as well as Langkat regency in North Sumatra.
Rudi said LIF also carried out monthly routine field surveys in the entire KEL area.
He said the tiger population in Leuser area was declining each year due to poaching. "We estimate that there are around 10 tigers killed by poachers each year, most of which are sold in Medan and later traded overseas," said Rudi.
Rudi said that a stuffed Sumatran tiger could fetch Rp 50 million (US$5,500) locally and up to Rp 100 million in Medan.
"The price of a tiger pelt is around Rp 12 million, while its bones are sold for Rp 1 million a kilogram. These prices climb twice as high by the time they reach Medan," Rudi told The Jakarta Post.
Shepherd said Medan was the only exit point for the illegal trade of Sumatran tigers to Malaysia, Singapore, China, Korea and Taiwan.
"The sale of Sumatran tigers and their organs overseas goes through Medan. They are usually exported by sea, especially through Tanjung Balai Port, while shipments via air and land are rare," he said. In July 2005, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia found 140 kilograms of Sumatran tiger bones and 24 skulls in Taiwan, which had been exported from Medan via Jakarta.
Shepherd said the illegal trade in Sumatran tigers was run by a syndicate involving local and overseas members.
He said it was likely security personnel were involved in the syndicate. "I think a number of security personnel are involved, but we have never found evidence to support this."
The head of the Natural Resources Conservation Center in North Sumatra, Djati Witjaksono Hadi, said his office had received information regarding the illegal trade of Sumatran tigers in Medan.
Djati said they would conduct operations in key locations in the trade of the animal.
"We all know where Sumatran tigers are traded in Medan," he said.
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
Graft suspects hire top lawyers
JAKARTA: As the extradition treaty between Indonesia and Singapore is expected to be signed in Bali today, Indonesian corruption suspects currently residing in neighboring Singapore have begun hiring top lawyers as legal counselors, a lawmaker said Thursday.
"I've just received confirmation from a Singaporean parliament member from the country's ruling party that (the alleged corruptors) have hired lawyers in their efforts to safeguard their assets," Ade Daud Nasution, a House of Representatives foreign politics and defense affairs legislator, said as quoted by detik.com news portal.
Ade said he was fearful of the potential scenario in which the corruption cases would be tried on the island state.
"If this scenario is later proven to be true, (Indonesia) might have to forget (about getting) the money back," he said. -- JP
"I've just received confirmation from a Singaporean parliament member from the country's ruling party that (the alleged corruptors) have hired lawyers in their efforts to safeguard their assets," Ade Daud Nasution, a House of Representatives foreign politics and defense affairs legislator, said as quoted by detik.com news portal.
Ade said he was fearful of the potential scenario in which the corruption cases would be tried on the island state.
"If this scenario is later proven to be true, (Indonesia) might have to forget (about getting) the money back," he said. -- JP
JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Thursday seven impostors claiming to be high-ranking state officials from the office of the vice president.
The impostors' victims included foreigners, officials and the public in general with losses of hundreds of millions of rupiah.
"The KPK received reports from two foreigners about two weeks ago who were asked for money by someone who claimed to be staff at the vice president's secretariat," KPK spokesman Johan Budi S.P. told a press conference.
"By chance, the two foreigners had (previously) been to the vice presidential office."
Upon receiving the reports, KPK investigators traced the impostors through cell phone numbers provided by the foreigners.
"After some investigation, we arrested the group on Thursday just before 8 p.m. at a house in the Maharaja housing complex in Pancoran Mas, Depok," Johan said.
"We will hand them over to the police on Friday because none of them are state officials." -- JP
The impostors' victims included foreigners, officials and the public in general with losses of hundreds of millions of rupiah.
"The KPK received reports from two foreigners about two weeks ago who were asked for money by someone who claimed to be staff at the vice president's secretariat," KPK spokesman Johan Budi S.P. told a press conference.
"By chance, the two foreigners had (previously) been to the vice presidential office."
Upon receiving the reports, KPK investigators traced the impostors through cell phone numbers provided by the foreigners.
"After some investigation, we arrested the group on Thursday just before 8 p.m. at a house in the Maharaja housing complex in Pancoran Mas, Depok," Johan said.
"We will hand them over to the police on Friday because none of them are state officials." -- JP
Ambon bomb blast aimed to frighten
Wednesday's bomb blast at Mardika bus terminal in the Maluku capital of Ambon, which injured six people, was designed to terrorize locals who lives have only recently returned to normal after years of conflict, a police officer said Thursday.
Maluku Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Tomy Napitupulu said all six people were taken to Alfatah Hospital. Just one victim whose leg was injured in the blast remains in hospital.
Although motivation for the bombing has not been established, the explosion was clearly designed to frighten the public, Tomy said. "Those responsible want to create a state of fear," he said.
Police have so far questioned 12 witnesses but do not have any suspects.
Injured victim Siti Hasna Umarela said from her hospital bed that just before the bomb went off she saw a man in a white shirt sitting at the explosion site. "Because it was dark, I could not clearly see his face," she said.
Then the man just walked away and disappeared in the darkness, she added.
"I was not suspicious of the man because I thought he was a waiting passenger. "But not long after he moved, the bomb exploded where he had been sitting," Siti said.
The explosion was set off between two shopping blocks on a four-meter-wide street serving the eastern parts of Ambon.
The alley, which is deserted of people at night and lacks streetlight, was busy with the passing vans when the bomb exploded.
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu urged the public Thursday not to be provoked by the bombing.
"The security officers will thoroughly investigate the case to find those responsible" he said.
During the last Ambon conflicts, the Mardika terminal was used by public vans providing services to Muslim passengers.
For Christian passengers, a temporary terminal was set up on Jalan Tulukabessy in the Citra area.
The services for Muslim and Christian passengers merged again by the end of 2004, following negotiations between both parties.
Despite the Wednesday's blast, however, public services including busses have returned to normal.
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Mudflow victims press on with compensation demand
Hundreds of mudflow victims from Sidoarjo briefly clashed with police attempting to prevent them from breaking into the Juanda Airport complex in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday.
At least two protesters, who were frustrated after failing to receive confirmation of compensation payments, were detained by the police.
Before the incident, the mudflow victims, who came from the four villages first affected by the sludge in Porong district, staged a noisy protest at Sidoarjo Legislative Council and tried to disrupt trains passing through the regency.
At the council, they damaged the gate after failing to meet Sidoarjo Regent Win Hendrarso and the head of the newly set up Sidoarjo Mudflow Prevention Agency, Soenarso.
The protesters became angry when they were told that a meeting between their representatives, the agency, Sidoarjo regency officials and council members had been put on hold on Thursday due to the absence of a representative from PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya, which is handling the compensation.
When a request for the regent to explain the delay received no response, they pushed toward the building.
Police officers tried to control the angry residents, who became calm after Win and Soenarso came on the site.
"The residents have to be patient and not close road access. The residents should also directly explain (their demands) to representatives from PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya, who are on their way here," Win said.
"The mudflow victims and I are brothers, not enemies. What we're trying to do is to speed up the payment of compensation," Soenarso said.
In the meeting at the council it was disclosed the Minarah had not yet guaranteed to pay the compensation to the victims, many of whom do not have land and building ownership certificates.
The agency's social affairs division head, Sutjahyono, telephoned Imam Agustino, general manager of Lapindo Brantas Inc., the company blamed for the mudflow, and received confirmation that Minarak vice president Andy Darussalam was on his way from Jakarta to Sidoarjo.
The company has said that it will only provide land and building compensation to those with ownership certificates.
Of the around 600 hectares of flooded land Porong district, only around 430 square meters are listed on land ownership certificates. Possession of the remaining land is recorded manually at subdistrict offices.
Meanwhile, workers were racing Thursday to repair a massive wall holding back the sludge. Cracks started to appear in the man-made embankment around the disaster area on Wednesday, prompting authorities to declare the area off limits, AFP reported.
Bambang Suryadi, from the company charged with monitoring the site, said a 300-meter exclusion zone was thrown up only as a precaution, saying the situation was not severe.
ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo
At least two protesters, who were frustrated after failing to receive confirmation of compensation payments, were detained by the police.
Before the incident, the mudflow victims, who came from the four villages first affected by the sludge in Porong district, staged a noisy protest at Sidoarjo Legislative Council and tried to disrupt trains passing through the regency.
At the council, they damaged the gate after failing to meet Sidoarjo Regent Win Hendrarso and the head of the newly set up Sidoarjo Mudflow Prevention Agency, Soenarso.
The protesters became angry when they were told that a meeting between their representatives, the agency, Sidoarjo regency officials and council members had been put on hold on Thursday due to the absence of a representative from PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya, which is handling the compensation.
When a request for the regent to explain the delay received no response, they pushed toward the building.
Police officers tried to control the angry residents, who became calm after Win and Soenarso came on the site.
"The residents have to be patient and not close road access. The residents should also directly explain (their demands) to representatives from PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya, who are on their way here," Win said.
"The mudflow victims and I are brothers, not enemies. What we're trying to do is to speed up the payment of compensation," Soenarso said.
In the meeting at the council it was disclosed the Minarah had not yet guaranteed to pay the compensation to the victims, many of whom do not have land and building ownership certificates.
The agency's social affairs division head, Sutjahyono, telephoned Imam Agustino, general manager of Lapindo Brantas Inc., the company blamed for the mudflow, and received confirmation that Minarak vice president Andy Darussalam was on his way from Jakarta to Sidoarjo.
The company has said that it will only provide land and building compensation to those with ownership certificates.
Of the around 600 hectares of flooded land Porong district, only around 430 square meters are listed on land ownership certificates. Possession of the remaining land is recorded manually at subdistrict offices.
Meanwhile, workers were racing Thursday to repair a massive wall holding back the sludge. Cracks started to appear in the man-made embankment around the disaster area on Wednesday, prompting authorities to declare the area off limits, AFP reported.
Bambang Suryadi, from the company charged with monitoring the site, said a 300-meter exclusion zone was thrown up only as a precaution, saying the situation was not severe.
ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo
BRR working hard but Acehnese remain unhappy
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
More than two years after Banda Aceh was devastated by the 2004 tsunami, the agency handling much of the rehabilitation in the province has completed 44 percent of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam's road repairs -- but residents are still unhappy.
The Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) released statistics on their progress Wednesday showing they were on track for most tasks included in their four-year long commitment to rebuild Aceh.
But most of the Aceh roads damaged in the tsunami are located in the province's west coast and, despite reconstruction efforts, many residents have complained the roads "are still rocky and slippery when it rains".
"It's very difficult to pass through the Gunung Mancang Calang area when it rains ... our car could easily slip," local resident and driver Muhammad Ayar said.
The route passes through Mount Mancang and was built after the tsunami. The old highway was wiped out by the 2004 disaster.
Residents reported many vehicles, especially the L-300 public transportation vans, get stuck in large potholes whenever it rains.
Asyari said the Banda Aceh-Calang highway in Aceh Jaya regency was in a very poor state.
"People prefer to use the alternative route through Pidie to reach Banda Aceh instead of traveling through Aceh Jaya, despite the distance," he said.
"I don't know when this will end."
The Calang Meulaboh highway was built by BRR and the route was paved with assistance from the Japanese government.
But the planned Banda Aceh-Calang highway will be built by USAID.
Transportation problems have slowed the dispatch of building materials, especially for projects in west coast areas like Aceh Jaya.
BRR data released Wednesday shows 38.88 percent of schools, or 782 of the 2,006 schools damaged by the tsunami, have been rebuilt.
"Even though many are still to be rebuilt -- it doesn't mean students cannot attend school," BRR spokesman Tuwanku Mirza said from Banda Aceh.
The reconstruction of schools is being carried out by BRR, but the agency is receiving help from international relief agencies including UNICEF and the International Red Cross.
The construction of community health centers in Banda Aceh has exceeded all expectations with the number of centers now in excess of the national average, Mirza said.
"The health centers are even equipped with in-patient facilities."
BRR head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said the agency had disbursed 81 percent (US$7.1 billion) of the total rehabilitation and reconstruction funds for Aceh and Nias.
"The funds have been committed by the Indonesian government, international donors and other relief groups," said Kuntoro, during the third coordination meeting for Aceh and Nias.
An estimated $6.1 billion is needed for the reconstruction process in Aceh and Nias; $4.5 billion for damages and material losses, $400 million for the Nias earthquake in 2005 and an additional $1.2 billion to offset the inflation rate.
Aceh Deputy Governor Muhammad Nazar reminded BRR to pay close attention to reconstruction projects and urged the agency to involve local administration to help control all works.
More than two years after Banda Aceh was devastated by the 2004 tsunami, the agency handling much of the rehabilitation in the province has completed 44 percent of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam's road repairs -- but residents are still unhappy.
The Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) released statistics on their progress Wednesday showing they were on track for most tasks included in their four-year long commitment to rebuild Aceh.
But most of the Aceh roads damaged in the tsunami are located in the province's west coast and, despite reconstruction efforts, many residents have complained the roads "are still rocky and slippery when it rains".
"It's very difficult to pass through the Gunung Mancang Calang area when it rains ... our car could easily slip," local resident and driver Muhammad Ayar said.
The route passes through Mount Mancang and was built after the tsunami. The old highway was wiped out by the 2004 disaster.
Residents reported many vehicles, especially the L-300 public transportation vans, get stuck in large potholes whenever it rains.
Asyari said the Banda Aceh-Calang highway in Aceh Jaya regency was in a very poor state.
"People prefer to use the alternative route through Pidie to reach Banda Aceh instead of traveling through Aceh Jaya, despite the distance," he said.
"I don't know when this will end."
The Calang Meulaboh highway was built by BRR and the route was paved with assistance from the Japanese government.
But the planned Banda Aceh-Calang highway will be built by USAID.
Transportation problems have slowed the dispatch of building materials, especially for projects in west coast areas like Aceh Jaya.
BRR data released Wednesday shows 38.88 percent of schools, or 782 of the 2,006 schools damaged by the tsunami, have been rebuilt.
"Even though many are still to be rebuilt -- it doesn't mean students cannot attend school," BRR spokesman Tuwanku Mirza said from Banda Aceh.
The reconstruction of schools is being carried out by BRR, but the agency is receiving help from international relief agencies including UNICEF and the International Red Cross.
The construction of community health centers in Banda Aceh has exceeded all expectations with the number of centers now in excess of the national average, Mirza said.
"The health centers are even equipped with in-patient facilities."
BRR head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said the agency had disbursed 81 percent (US$7.1 billion) of the total rehabilitation and reconstruction funds for Aceh and Nias.
"The funds have been committed by the Indonesian government, international donors and other relief groups," said Kuntoro, during the third coordination meeting for Aceh and Nias.
An estimated $6.1 billion is needed for the reconstruction process in Aceh and Nias; $4.5 billion for damages and material losses, $400 million for the Nias earthquake in 2005 and an additional $1.2 billion to offset the inflation rate.
Aceh Deputy Governor Muhammad Nazar reminded BRR to pay close attention to reconstruction projects and urged the agency to involve local administration to help control all works.
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