Gowa residents to be moved to safer area

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

The Gowa regental administration will soon relocate at least 63 families from Tinggimoncong subdistrict, who were affected by a recent landslide that left at least two people dead and 31 others missing, to a safer area, officials said on Wednesday.

They said the victims would be moved to a neighboring area, located some five kilometers from their hamlet of Lengkese in Manimbahoi village, Gowa regency, South Sulawesi.

Tinggimoncong subdistrict head Syafruddin Ardan said his office had found a location which was safe for the locals to live at.

But the location should be surveyed, and consultation with the relevant local authorities -- including the forestry office, the mining and energy office and the resettlement and infrastructure office -- was needed, before moving the victims there, he added.

"Actually, we have found a location which is only some five kilometers away. It is still part of Manimbahoi village," Syafruddin said.

He said that apart from the safety issue, in planning to relocate the villagers, the possibility that they would farm the land should be taken into account.

Syafruddin said the Gowa administration had allocated between Rp 10 million (US$1,176) and Rp 15 million per family to relocate the villagers from the area, which is prone to landslides.

Meanwhile, a number of Lengkese residents refused to return to their homes.

"I don't want to go home. I am afraid of more landslides," local villager Sulaiman said, in the refugee camp where he is living along with other victims.

He urged the local government to provide the refugees with a new area in which to live.

However, search and rescue workers have called off the search for those still missing after Friday's disaster. Instead, they are assisting victims salvage their belongings, which are then transported to the camp.

Separately, geologist Hamed Umar from Hasanuddin University and the head of the mitigation and geology disaster sub- directorate of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Surono, urged the government to examine the slopes of the mountain where the residents live.

"If we want to relocate residents from that area, the government should conduct a survey to determine whether the new location is suitable. We are all aware of the condition of Mount Bawakaraeng, so we should remove them from danger," Hamed said.