Lumpur; The Story of the Indonesian Mud Disaster
October 23, 2008 – 4:19 pm
Lumpur; The Story of the Indonesian Mud Disaster
(Sharon Madanes, Phoebe Clarke, Edwina Clarke)
On May 26, 2006, mud erupted in East Java, Indonesia. Since then, one billion cubic feet of sulfuric hot mud have swallowed thirteen towns and displaced 30,000 people. International geologists accuse drilling giant Lapindo of having caused the disaster. But Lapindo insists that their presence in the area was merely a coincidence. Two years later, the issue remains unresolved.
Lumpur is rife with corruption and greed. Lapindo’s owner, Aburizal Bakrie, is the Minister of Welfare, President Yudhoyono’s top campaign contributor, and, with a net worth of over 5.2 billion dollars, the richest man in Indonesia. Bakrie’s position has not prevented him from taking a stand, and he has publicly stated that the mudflow is a natural disaster.
In the meantime, the mud continues to flow and cover new towns. In an effort to contain the disaster, the government has channeled the mud to the nearby river, where it clogs the water and kills marine life. The main highway has been submerged, and East Java’s economy is sinking rapidly. With no end to the flow in sight, the stakes are high. In the face corruption, can ordinary people prevail?
