The East Java Police have issued a shoot-on-sight order against anybody trying to disrupt activities of the National Mudflow Mitigation Team at the disaster site in Sidoarjo, East Java.

"The police also will shoot any anarchical demonstrators, whose actions could lead to the destruction of state facilities, both at Banjar Panji-1 well or other locations throughout East Java," Greater Surabaya Police chief Sr-Commander Anang Iskandar said on Tuesday.

With displaced local residents increasingly frustrated at the handling of the problem in Porong and other areas, Anang said the shoot-on-sight order was issued as a police procedure to safeguard public and state facilities. He added it was not to protect the interests of Lapindo Brantas Incorporated, which owns the exploration site.

"All of you already know the police will act against any acts of anarchy . . . the situation in Porong is very unstable . . . we have to beware and continuously be on the alert," Anang said.

Since the start of the steaming mudflow about 150 metres from the Banjar-1 well at Siring village, Anang said, the police had stationed up to 1,089 officers to safeguard the area.

Meanwhile, dozens of mudflow victims from three villages in Ngoro district - Kunjoro Wesi, Wates Ngoro and Munduro - again staged a rally in front of the Mojokerto Legislative Council building Tuesday to express their opposition against the dumping of hot mud in their areas.

Sulamin, the coordinator of the rally, said they were adamantly opposed to the measure because it would overflow during the rainy season and could inundate their villages, as has happened with residences near the site of the disaster.

He noted that embankments built to contain the mudflow have broken nine times thus far, inundating nearby locations.

"We will organise much bigger rallies to oppose the dumping activities. We're ready for a potential conflict with anybody because the mud threatens our villages."

Dumping of the mud at Ngoro village has reportedly been approved by the national mitigation team and the East Java provincial administration. East Java Governor Imam Utomo has asked for permission for the disposal from the Mojokerto regent, who has not responded to the request.

The Jakarta Post

Asia News Network

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