GOVT ASKS LAPINDO TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS TO MUDFLOW VICTIMS

Jakarta, Nov. 28 (ANTARA) - The government has asked Lapindo Brantas Inc to meet its outstanding compensation obligations to the victims of the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster as soon as possible, a cabinet minister said.
The request was made to Lapindo Brantas President Director Nirwan Bakrie who was summoned to the presidential office for the purpose on a direct order from the president on Thursday, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto told the press.
The minister said the president had asked him to summon Nirwan Bakrie who arrived at the presidential office at 5 pm and had to wait until a cabinet session had ended at 9 pm local time.
After the cabinet meeting, Minister Kirmanto and State Intelligent Agency (BIN) Chief Syamsir Siregar met Nirwan Bakrie.
"The president's instruction was to summon Nirwan Bakrie and force him to come. That's why, during the cabinet meeting, I called Bakrie and asked him to wait downstairs. That's what happened. I and the BIN chief talked (to Bakrie)," Kirmanto said.
"I asked him (Nirwan Bakrie) to settle the remaining compensation payments. He said (he would do it) at the end of this month. It means on Monday," Kirmanto said.
The obligation to settle the compensation payments to the mudflow victims in Sidoarjo was in line with Presidential Decree No. 14/2007. Lapindo was required to pay Rp60 billion or 80 percent of the agreed compensation payments.
The company had paid part of the amount and stil had to pay Rp49 billion.