N. Sumatra to reopen resort town

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan

The North Sumatra provincial government and Langkat regency administration have agreed with the people's demand to get the Bukit Lawang tourist resort reopened following a massive flash flood last year that killed over 180 people.

Masrie Zein, a secretary to the Langkat regency government, said that the administration had sent a letter to the authorities at Mount Leuser National Park (TNGL) over the possible reopening of the tourist resort.

"We need the TNGL endorsement, as they have the authority to declare whether the tourist resort is safe," said Masri, during a discussion in the North Sumatra capital of Medan on Wednesday.

He said the national park management had knowledge of the weather patterns in the area and they also knew whether there was the potential for another fatal flash flood in the future.

Olo Simbolon, an employee at TNGL, confirmed that there was a letter from the Langkat regency government requesting the TNGL management to determine the status of the resort.

He said that the tourist resort had been declared safe, so it could be reopened.

"The letter of endorsement will be sent to them immediately," said Olo.

The plan to reopen the area, located in Bahorok, Langkat regency, was brought to light after demands by local residents recently. The residents surrounding the tourist resort demanded it be reopened because it was their only source of income.

They said that they had not earned any money since the park was closed in November last year, when the flash floods hit the area.

It is estimated that some 300,000 tourists visited the park annually over the last several years, mainly to see the pristine area of Bahorok and its native orangutans.

Secretary Muchyan Tambuse from the provincial administration, said that he hoped the tourist resort could be reopened within a month.

Meanwhile, several representatives of the flood victims stepped up the pressure on the provincial government during a discussion here on Wednesday, demanding a full accounting of the billions of rupiah in aid money that was given.

Besides demanding the reopening of the tourist resort, they also questioned the whereabouts of over Rp 50 billion fund aid promised by the central government.

Langkat Regent Syamsul Arifin, who attended the discussion, said that his government only received Rp 25 billion from the central government.

He did admit that the money had not actually been spent, but promised to use it on rebuilding work in the future, including 354 houses for the victims of the flash flood. "The Rp 25 billion of aid money is still here. Everybody can check it in the Langkat government's special account," he stated.