Yogie calms down quake victims following riots<\/p>\n
SUNGAIPENUH, Jambi (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
\nS.M. appealed to victims of last week's earthquake here to
\npersevere and not be misled by unfounded rumors that could spark
\nriots and other violence.<\/p>\n
\"The government is appealing to you to be patient and
\nstrengthen your trust in God. Don't be easily misled by rumors,\"
\nYogie said before attending Friday's prayers at the Baiturrahman,
\nthe main mosque in the city which was most devastated by
\nSaturday's powerful earthquake.<\/p>\n
His appeal came after the area was rocked by a riot and amid
\ncomplaints about the pace of the relief operation.<\/p>\n
Yogie is the latest government official to tour the quake-
\nstricken Gunung Kerinci district to comfort the survivors and
\noversee the relief operation.<\/p>\n
He visited Sebukara, one of the worst-hit villages in the
\nSitinjau Laut sub-district, and the Sungaipenuh general hospital
\nwhere 140 seriously injured people were under intensive medical
\ntreatment.<\/p>\n
He also gave the Kerinci administration Rp 50 million in aid.<\/p>\n
During the tour, he was accompanied by Jambi Governor
\nAbdurrahman Sayoeti, Chief of the Sriwijaya Military Command Maj.
\nGen. R. Karyono, the Jambi military district Col. Muchdi Purwo
\nPranjono and Kerinci Regent Chief Bambang Sukawinarno.<\/p>\n
Yogie's appeal came after a riot on Wednesday in one of the
\nquake-stricken villages that left one soldier and a civilian
\ndead. Another soldier was severely injured.<\/p>\n
The riot was reportedly started by a rumor that the two
\nsoldiers were molesting two high school girls that were hitching
\na ride in the military car. An angry mob went after the two
\nsoldiers, and, in the confusion, one of the soldiers opened fire
\nand killed a villager.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Wednesday, two journalists were attacked by a mob
\nwho were apparently angry at the media's failure to give equal
\ncoverage to all villages devastated by the quake. Some of the
\npeople blamed the unequal media coverage for the unequal
\ndistribution of relief aid between the villages.<\/p>\n
Several other rumors have prompted panic among the grieving
\npeople, such as one about an impending eruption of Mt. Kerinci,
\nand another about the escape of inmates from a nearby jail.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Karyono said some irresponsible parties had been
\nfanning the tension in the area in order to discredit the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone should remain cautious towards the rising anti-
\ngovernment movement and enhance their sense of solidarity,
\nespecially in such a difficult situation,\" Karyono said.<\/p>\n
The administration said a 16-year-old girl died yesterday
\nafter undergoing six days of treatment at the Jambi general
\nhospital. With her death, the quake's death toll reached 81.<\/p>\n
At least 735 people were still in intensive care yesterday at
\nhospitals in Sungaipenuh, Jambi and Padang.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, officials in Jambi said all relief aid sent to the
\ntown were being dispatched immediately to Gunung Kerinci and that
\nthere should be no reason for any delay.<\/p>\n
Wawan Ridwan, an official at the relief distribution center,
\ntold The Jakarta Post by phone that problems had occurred because
\nsome villages were remote and difficult to reach.<\/p>\n
Another official, Anwar Mansyur, said each day five trucks
\nleave for the Gunung Kerinci district carrying relief supplies.<\/p>\n
Besides food, tents and medical supplies, the relief center has
\nalso collected more than Rp 200 million in cash, Anwar said.
\n(msa\/rms)<\/p>",
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