No insurance for Lombok victims

MATARAM, Nusa Tenggara Barat: Families of 12 passengers killed and 22 others injured in a traffic accident were not entitled to insurance from state-owned insurance firm PT Jasa Raharja.

The head of the insurance firm, I Gede Putu Karyasa, said they were not covered because the vehicle they were riding in was a cargo vehicle.

"It wasn't a bus or a vehicle to transport people," I Gede said of the truck which plunged into a ravine in East Lombok on Monday. Seventy passengers were on board when the truck was passing a bend in the Sapit village of Pringgabaya district.

Antara reported I Gede saying that based on 1964 Law No. 33 on the insurance of public transport passengers, cargo vehicles, like trucks, were not included.

According to 1964 Law No. 34 on traffic accidents, those entitled to compensation are victims hit by vehicles.

Following Monday's accident, only the driver and his two assistants were entitled to insurance because they had insurance cards. Insurance cards are distributed to holders of drivers' licenses. (anr)