The Jakarta Post, 1/22/2007 4:45:19 PM
Lapindo faces class action sue
JAKARTA (Antara): PT Lapindo Brantas Inc faces class action by thousands of
victims of mudflow in company's gas field in Porong district, Sidoarjo regency, East
Java.
"We will soon submit a class action sue against Lapindo Brantas after victims of hot
mudflow are ready," said Taufik Basari, coordinator of an advocate team for the
mudflow victims Monday.
Taufik stressed that Lapindo is responsible for the misery of thousands of people, who
were affected by the mudflow since eight months ago.
Some 10,000 people from several villages in Sidoarjo regency have to flee their
houses, who have been buried by mud flowing from Lapindo's gas field. All efforts to
stop the mudflow is not so successful so far.
Previously, the team has submitted legal standing against Lapindo and the
government. A legal standing is a a legal mechanism carried out by an organization.
Lapindo lawyer S. Jurnalis said that his client has a strong commitment to help
mudflow victims. He said that the company has spent some US$100 million to
compensate people affected by the mudflow.
According to Jurnalis, his client could not be blamed over the incident because it is a
natural phenomenon.
A number of organizations involved in the advocacy team of mudflow victims are
YLBHI, Walhi Indonesia, HUMA, ELSAM, JATAM, AMAN, ICEL, LBH Jakarta, Walhi
Jawa Timur. (**)
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