Home Socio-Cultural Considerance Mudflow victims disappointed Yudhoyono only made aerial inspection

Mudflow victims disappointed Yudhoyono only made aerial inspection

Tuesday, 26 June 2007

(Originally published by Antara in June 26, 2007) Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - Hundreds of victims of the mudflow disaster in Sidoardjo District, East Java, were disappointed because President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday only made an aerial inspection of the hot mudflow affected locations, as many of the victims had hoped to meet the head of state in person. The mudflow refugees and pressmen waited for the President at the Porong traditional market but they could only see two helicopters -- one of them carrying the President -- flying around above the Porong market. The refugees were disappointed because they had hoped that they could personally tell President Yudhoyono about the problems they were facing, especially regarding the promised compensation which had not been fully settled so far. "I took special time off from work hoping to meet the President but he just made an aerial inspection, and did not meet directly with mudflow victims. I and other people are of course disappointed," Basori said. Andi Mallarangeng, a presidential spokesman, earlier said that it was enough for the President to make an aerial inspection of the mudflow-affected locations. "The President considered the meeting with representatives of mudflow victims in Cikeas recently sufficient," Andi Mallarangeng said. The President decided to visit Surabaya and Sidoarjo after receiving inputs from some of the mudflow victims who came to his private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, on Sunday afternoon. The presidential entourage during his visit to East Java included Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta, Social Affairs Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah, Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, and Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto. The other members were Communications and Information Minister Mohammad Nuh, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Head of the National Land Agency Joyo Winoto, and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment Add Comment Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved.