Fiasco in Lampung, S. Sumatra intensifies<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Powercuts in the provinces of Lampung and South Sumatra have
\nincreased in frequency from once every three days to once every
\ntwo days due to the breakdown of the coal-fired power plant in
\nBukit Asam in South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
And there is no optimism that the situation will improve since
\nthe repair work at a second damaged plant, the Way Besai hydro-
\npowered electricity plant, is yet to be completed despite the
\nbreakdown occurring last January.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people staged a demonstration at the local PLN
\noffice to protest on Thursday, demanding that the state-owned
\ncompany complete the repair work immediately.<\/p>\n
\"PLN should be ashamed with its poor service while they were
\nnever hesitant to increase electricity prices. The government
\nshould also take responsibility for the blackouts because it
\nholds the monopoly in the electricity supply and service market
\nto the public,\" said Jauhari Zailani, an activist at the Lampung
\nMedia Center (LMC).<\/p>\n
He said the frequent blackout had caused a huge amount of
\nmaterial losses to the local people and widespread inconvenience
\nand disturbances to their daily activities.<\/p>\n
Power to the provinces has been disrupted since Jan. 26, 2002
\ndue to the breakdown of the Way Besai plant.<\/p>\n
Local activities have been disturbed while crime is increasing
\nwhen night falls as large areas have no lighting, making it easy
\nfor burglars and robbers to operate.<\/p>\n
In East Lampung, robbery and burglary has occurred on a daily
\nbasis since the power blackouts. Sometimes victims have been
\nmurdered.<\/p>\n
\"I was robbed at a bus terminal in the city during the
\nblackout. I am sure that if the streets were properly lit, the
\nrobbers wouldn't be so daring,\" said Mulyati, a Kedaton resident
\nin Bandarlampung.<\/p>\n
According to one bus driver, Ruslan, the passengers were often
\nafraid to fight back as the robbers operated in groups of four or
\nsix people.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the increasing crime rate, Lampung chief police,
\nBrig. Gen. Sugiri said that the police would intensify
\noperations, especially in East Lampung where crimes were most
\nnoted.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Tanjungkarang electricity plant said they were
\nready to replace electronic goods caused by the irregular flow of
\nelectricity.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready to meet the public's claims,\" said Arif Muryoto,
\nspokesman of PLN Tanjungkarang.<\/p>\n
Most of the electricity plants in Lampung are in poor
\ncondition, while connections are often disturbed as the cables
\nmust cross wide areas of forest.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the South Sumatra provincial capital of
\nPalembang, the police have stepped up security around PLN's
\noffices in anticipation of possible attacks by those who are
\nfrustrated by the blackouts.<\/p>\n
Syafri Jamil, chief of the PLN office in Palembang, said the
\naction was taken in line with the increasing violence by local
\nprotesters.<\/p>\n
\"Before imposing the blackouts, we have made an apology to our
\nconsumers and are disseminating information on it through local
\nmass media and we are still working hard to repair the two
\ntroubled power plants as soon as possible,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fiasco-in-lampung-s-sumatra-intensifies-1447893297",
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