National

North Sulawesi Local Administration Fixes Relocation Villages for Buyat Victims
Thursday, 17 March, 2005 | 20:21 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Local Administration of North Sulawesi has settled on two villages in the region as relocation destinations for Buyat Bay residents.

Previously, the Ministry for the Environment stated that three villages were potential relocation destinations.

“We have already received a letter from the local administration regarding confirmation of the relocation villages,” Sudariyono, Deputy IV of the Preservation of the Environment at the ministry, told Tempo on Wednesday (16/3).

Based on the letter, according to Sudariyono, there are changes as regards the relocation villages for the Buyat fishermen compared to the options provided by the ministry.

Originally there were three villages being prepared, Tetengesan and Ongkau Villages in South Minahasa Regency and Nonopan Village in Bolaang Mongondow Regency.

According to the map attached to the letter, continued Sudariyono, the North Sulawesi Local Administration has only agreed to two villages that are ready, Tetengasan Village, Belang sub-district, South Minahasa Regency, and Motongkad Village in Kotabun sub-district, Bolaang Mongondow Regency.

These changes however, according to him, do not create any problems.

“Especially bearing in mind that the local administration is more knowledgeable as regards the preparations carried out there,” said Sudariyono.

In addition, the villages offered by the Sudariyono that the North Sulawesi Local Administration are not too different with what the government offered before.

“The distance is only 40 kilometers from Buyat Beach Village, so there is no real difference,” added Sudariyono.

The Buyat Relocation Team will still carry out checks regarding the status of the land offered by the local administration.

Rinaldi D Gultom