Mudslide disaster

Mudslide disaster

Dec. 11, 2002 will always be remembered as the worst mudslide
disaster ever to have taken place in Pacet, a mountain resort in
Mojokerto, East Java. The minister of forestry and the East Java
governor said the tragedy, which claimed about 60 lives, was a
natural disaster, and there was no point in blaming one another.

Actually, local environmentalists had blamed forestry
officials for other mudslides that took place earlier in the same
area but the officials did not warn visitors the same catastrophe
might occur following three successive days of heavy downpours.
Apparently the wanton tree felling had contributed to the
tragedy.

This country has been plagued by degradation of rainforests
for the last three decades. Forestry management has not been
effective despite several changes of ministers. It is saddening
to hear that according to a university team, West Kalimantan
would turn to desert by 2047 following illegal logging and the
timber businesses.

M. RUSDI, Jakarta