Fiasco in Lampung, S. Sumatra intensifies
Fiasco in Lampung, S. Sumatra intensifies
Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung
Powercuts in the provinces of Lampung and South Sumatra have
increased in frequency from once every three days to once every
two days due to the breakdown of the coal-fired power plant in
Bukit Asam in South Sumatra.
And there is no optimism that the situation will improve since
the repair work at a second damaged plant, the Way Besai hydro-
powered electricity plant, is yet to be completed despite the
breakdown occurring last January.
Hundreds of people staged a demonstration at the local PLN
office to protest on Thursday, demanding that the state-owned
company complete the repair work immediately.
"PLN should be ashamed with its poor service while they were
never hesitant to increase electricity prices. The government
should also take responsibility for the blackouts because it
holds the monopoly in the electricity supply and service market
to the public," said Jauhari Zailani, an activist at the Lampung
Media Center (LMC).
He said the frequent blackout had caused a huge amount of
material losses to the local people and widespread inconvenience
and disturbances to their daily activities.
Power to the provinces has been disrupted since Jan. 26, 2002
due to the breakdown of the Way Besai plant.
Local activities have been disturbed while crime is increasing
when night falls as large areas have no lighting, making it easy
for burglars and robbers to operate.
In East Lampung, robbery and burglary has occurred on a daily
basis since the power blackouts. Sometimes victims have been
murdered.
"I was robbed at a bus terminal in the city during the
blackout. I am sure that if the streets were properly lit, the
robbers wouldn't be so daring," said Mulyati, a Kedaton resident
in Bandarlampung.
According to one bus driver, Ruslan, the passengers were often
afraid to fight back as the robbers operated in groups of four or
six people.
Commenting on the increasing crime rate, Lampung chief police,
Brig. Gen. Sugiri said that the police would intensify
operations, especially in East Lampung where crimes were most
noted.
Separately, the Tanjungkarang electricity plant said they were
ready to replace electronic goods caused by the irregular flow of
electricity.
"We are ready to meet the public's claims," said Arif Muryoto,
spokesman of PLN Tanjungkarang.
Most of the electricity plants in Lampung are in poor
condition, while connections are often disturbed as the cables
must cross wide areas of forest.
Meanwhile, in the South Sumatra provincial capital of
Palembang, the police have stepped up security around PLN's
offices in anticipation of possible attacks by those who are
frustrated by the blackouts.
Syafri Jamil, chief of the PLN office in Palembang, said the
action was taken in line with the increasing violence by local
protesters.
"Before imposing the blackouts, we have made an apology to our
consumers and are disseminating information on it through local
mass media and we are still working hard to repair the two
troubled power plants as soon as possible," he said.