Rich MP will pay mud volcano victims
13/8/08
Indonesia’s richest man, Aburizal Bakrie, says a firm linked to his family is not responsible for a massive mud disaster in East Java, but will still pay victims compensation. The cause of the Sidoarjo mud volcano, which has displaced more than 50,000 people, is disputed. Some scientific studies blame drilling by Lapindo Brantas Inc, a firm linked to Mr Bakrie’s family, while Lapindo and Mr Bakrie say an earthquake near Yogyakarta in 2006 triggered the disaster. Mr Bakrie, the country’s chief welfare minister, said Lapindo had been cleared of wrongdoing by two Indonesian courts. The company is paying compensation for the flooded land, houses and factories, and has built new housing for victims.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24177816-12335,00.html
Tags: Human Rights, Indonesia, Mining