East Manggarai Deputy Regent Denies BNPB Pressured Sub-district Head over Earthquake Aid
The East Manggarai Regency government has confirmed that there was no pressure or coercion from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on the Lamba Leda Utara district head during the distribution of logistical aid for communities affected by the earthquake.
This statement responds to a video that circulated widely on social media showing Lamba Leda Utara District Head Agustinus Supratman engaged in a dispute with BNPB officers at the Damer Health Service Post.
East Manggarai Deputy Regent Tarsisius Sjukur said his office had investigated the incident to ensure that the information circulating matched the actual conditions on the ground.
“After we investigated the incident, it is not true that there was pressure from BNPB on the Lamba Leda Utara district head. Including in the process of signing the official report, there was no coercion from BNPB officers,” Tarsisius said in his statement on Wednesday (26/8).
Tarsisius said the presence of BNPB personnel in East Manggarai was part of the disaster response effort, particularly to ensure that logistical aid sent by the central government could be received by affected communities.
He explained that aid from the central government was distributed in stages according to the needs of communities in 12 affected districts. The East Manggarai Regency government then coordinated the receipt and distribution of aid through the regional main post led by the Regional Secretary.
“Logistics from the central government are handed over through the main post in the region. From there, coordination is carried out to ensure that aid moves to the areas that need it,” he said.
Tarsisius said the regional government had also appointed officers responsible for the division and distribution of logistics. This mechanism was put in place to ensure that aid could be monitored and distributed according to the needs of communities in each area.
He also stressed that disaster management requires close coordination between the central government, regional government, districts, villages, and all elements involved. Therefore, any issues that arise in the field need to be resolved through communication and coordination so as not to disrupt services to the community.
“In a disaster situation like now, all parties certainly face great pressure and responsibility. But the most important thing is how we maintain communication and coordination so that aid can be received immediately by the communities who need it,” he said.
Meanwhile, BNPB Inspector III, Senior Commissioner Deden Nurhidayatullah, who was assigned as the person in charge of disaster management in East Manggarai, also denied the alleged coercion.
He explained that the mechanism for handing over aid at the district level is part of the regional government’s authority through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). BNPB hands over aid up to the BPBD post, while the subsequent distribution process is carried out by the regional BPBD according to the applicable mechanism.
“In disaster management, we understand the importance of good communication in the field. We came to ensure that aid is distributed and community needs are monitored. We have never engaged in coercion in the process of signing official reports,” Deden said.
Furthermore, Deden said that from the outset BNPB had coordinated with the regional government to support the smooth handling of the disaster.
“In conditions like this, our priority is to ensure that aid continues to move towards the communities who need it. When access for large vehicles is constrained, we look for alternatives so that logistics can still be delivered in stages,” he said.