Yogie calms down quake victims following riots
Yogie calms down quake victims following riots
SUNGAIPENUH, Jambi (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
S.M. appealed to victims of last week's earthquake here to
persevere and not be misled by unfounded rumors that could spark
riots and other violence.
"The government is appealing to you to be patient and
strengthen your trust in God. Don't be easily misled by rumors,"
Yogie said before attending Friday's prayers at the Baiturrahman,
the main mosque in the city which was most devastated by
Saturday's powerful earthquake.
His appeal came after the area was rocked by a riot and amid
complaints about the pace of the relief operation.
Yogie is the latest government official to tour the quake-
stricken Gunung Kerinci district to comfort the survivors and
oversee the relief operation.
He visited Sebukara, one of the worst-hit villages in the
Sitinjau Laut sub-district, and the Sungaipenuh general hospital
where 140 seriously injured people were under intensive medical
treatment.
He also gave the Kerinci administration Rp 50 million in aid.
During the tour, he was accompanied by Jambi Governor
Abdurrahman Sayoeti, Chief of the Sriwijaya Military Command Maj.
Gen. R. Karyono, the Jambi military district Col. Muchdi Purwo
Pranjono and Kerinci Regent Chief Bambang Sukawinarno.
Yogie's appeal came after a riot on Wednesday in one of the
quake-stricken villages that left one soldier and a civilian
dead. Another soldier was severely injured.
The riot was reportedly started by a rumor that the two
soldiers were molesting two high school girls that were hitching
a ride in the military car. An angry mob went after the two
soldiers, and, in the confusion, one of the soldiers opened fire
and killed a villager.
Earlier on Wednesday, two journalists were attacked by a mob
who were apparently angry at the media's failure to give equal
coverage to all villages devastated by the quake. Some of the
people blamed the unequal media coverage for the unequal
distribution of relief aid between the villages.
Several other rumors have prompted panic among the grieving
people, such as one about an impending eruption of Mt. Kerinci,
and another about the escape of inmates from a nearby jail.
Maj. Gen. Karyono said some irresponsible parties had been
fanning the tension in the area in order to discredit the
government.
"Everyone should remain cautious towards the rising anti-
government movement and enhance their sense of solidarity,
especially in such a difficult situation," Karyono said.
The administration said a 16-year-old girl died yesterday
after undergoing six days of treatment at the Jambi general
hospital. With her death, the quake's death toll reached 81.
At least 735 people were still in intensive care yesterday at
hospitals in Sungaipenuh, Jambi and Padang.
Meanwhile, officials in Jambi said all relief aid sent to the
town were being dispatched immediately to Gunung Kerinci and that
there should be no reason for any delay.
Wawan Ridwan, an official at the relief distribution center,
told The Jakarta Post by phone that problems had occurred because
some villages were remote and difficult to reach.
Another official, Anwar Mansyur, said each day five trucks
leave for the Gunung Kerinci district carrying relief supplies.
Besides food, tents and medical supplies, the relief center has
also collected more than Rp 200 million in cash, Anwar said.
(msa/rms)