"Lapindo Mud Pool - A Capture from the sky"
"Lapindo Oil Drill on Its Main Well Banjar Panji 1 - Out of Control"
"Lapindo Leaks - Outflow Gases and Mud"
"Lapindo Mud OutFlow - Human Cause Disaster"
"Lapindo Mud Pool - A Capture from Google Earth"Hundreds of people offered up prayers Friday (May, 29 2009) to mark three years (Lapindo case start from May, 29 2006) since the day their lives were turned upside down when an East Java mud leak claimed their livelihoods.The prayers were held in parts of the affected area in Siring village, Porong district, in Sidoarjo. Victims and other locals said they hoped the government would be more caring and quickly find a solution for their problem. A red and black tape marked "Danger" was wrapped around the prayer area by artists taking part in the commemoration. On Thursday in Jakarta, thousands of victims lost their lawsuit at the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the firm widely considered responsible for the May 29, 2006, disaster through its drilling activities, PT Lapindo Brantas Inc (Aburizal Bakrie's Company, member of Bakrie Group Holding). The lawsuit claimed the firm had neglected the thousands of victims, but the court upheld the verdict of a lower court. It said Lapindo had done all it could to provide shelter and compensation for those who lost their homes in the ever-growing lake of mud. During Friday's prayers, victims demanded that Lapindo, partly owned by the family of chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie, make good on its compensation to the victims and to others who were also affected by the tragedy. The mudflow erupted in a densely populated area known for a vibrant economy, among others from shrimp farms along the East Java coast, and an industrial area. Business was disrupted when the mud began swamping not only residential areas but also the main roads linking Sidoarjo to other cities, including provincial capital Surabaya. "We want the government to take a firm attitude with Lapindo," Sadli, a victim, said at the event attended by leading local figures. Previously, Public Works Minister Joko Kirmanto, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and East Java Governor Sukarwo visited the mudflow. Women attending the prayers with their children complained of not having permanent homes or secure sources of income. Also on Thursday (May, 28 2009), victims held a protest over the protracted process of acquiring the certificates for their new homes. Victims have joined several demonstrations in East Java and Jakarta, including protests on Friday in the capital to commemorate the third anniversary of the disaster. After attending Friday's prayers, some of the victims visited a similar commemoration in the nearby traditional market, which still houses many of those left homeless by the mudflow. Here, artists and victims joined an art session reflecting their experiences. Posters on the site read, "Three years is enough, it's time for victims to rise. "Despite various efforts to contain the mud and highly flammable gas, more leaks from six new channels had appeared as of Thursday. Its predicted by scientists that this disaster need at least 45 years or more to be ended.
Author: Agnes S. Jayakarna, The Jakarta Post with a little modified Indonesia Today
