Aburizal: Lapindo to Be Responsible
Wednesday, 21 June, 2006 | 14:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Aburizal Bakrie, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, has confirmed that PT Lapindo Brantas would be responsible for the mudflows containing gas at Sidoarjo.

This Bakrie Group’s subsidiary company will also have to handle with any social losses resulted from the hot mudflows that have hit residents' homes.

“Lapindo Brantas has to bear responsibility and to handle all technical damage there,” said Aburizal today (21/6) in Jakarta.

“You may ask it to (Nirwan) Bakrie,” he said, “Don't ask me, I'm only the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare.”

As a minister, said Aburizal, he repeated Jusuf Kalla's statement which ordered that Lapindo should handle the disaster so as to lessen residents’ burden.

“Lapindo itself is ready to carry out this order,” he said.

Bagja Hidayat