He Says, They Say

Since last Friday, it has been very confusing who is going to be responsible for Lapindo recovery costs and compensation for victims. Even as the relief team fight to resolve the gas pipe explosion problem and PLN is losing Rp 4.7 billion/day, the ring of circus is in Jakarta, when previous owner of Lapindo, current owner of Lapindo, and government officials are divided in opinions as to who in charge of the liabilities.


Immediately after the announcement of the sale of Lapindo to Freehold, Vice President Jusuf Kalla implied on Nov 17, that the new owner of Lapindo must be responsible.

It is quite strange, since Minarak Labuan Co, Ltd. Director Jay Abdullah Alatas stated on Nov 17, at the same day with the Vice President, that Bakrie Group would still be committed to provide all the funds needed in Lapindo recovery and compensation. This is a small consolation, since we've heard less and less of Bakrie as the time progressed, compared to few months ago when the majority opinion was Bakrie should be responsible. The inquiry by Bapepam on the new owner, haven't been replied with positive response from EMP management.

The situation become more complicated after BP Migas Chief Kardaya Warnika said that even though Lapindo has been sold to the new owner, the previous owner and the three contractors of Brantas Block : Lapindo, Medco and Santos, could not shirk responsibility on the damage, recovery process and compensation, on Nov 17.

Meanwhile, Medco has been engaged in arbitrage suit against Lapindo, the purpose is to shed responsibility on the ground that they were non-operative partner.

In the same tone, echoing his boss and fellow Golkar, Coordinating Minister for People' Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, whose group is a majority owner of Lapindo, has stated on Nov 22, that the new owner of Lapindo would bear the responsibility, after commenting that Bapepam Chief should not make unnecessary comments.

And Pertamina gas pipe exploded on 8 pm, Nov 22, left 7 people killed and 14 injured. Geologists and relief team had warned since 2 months ago that the pipe should be relocated as soon as possible to avoid disaster.

In a bold move, or desperate one, before the call of special cabinet meeting tonight, Coordinating Minister for People' Welfare declared that the explosion is a natural disaster, thus government would be responsible, and the victims would be compensated Rp 2 million per head. He said since government and relief team didn't anticipate the possibility of explosion and failed to relocate the pipes, this would be reasonable conclusion.

After cabinet meeting, tonight Nov 23, President indeed declared the explosion as disaster, and that the government should be involved. One more confusing statement and further overhang, would the statement means that government will take over the resposibility from Lapindo ? Unclear. To end the fracas and uphold justice for the people, he must decides. Soon.