Collective Statement from Bali Civil Society
For those who concerned about Mt. Agung crisis and agreed upon this statement, please sign in the comment section. The result will be send to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, and Ministry of Tourism.
On Sunday, December 24, 2017, Mt. Agung had erupted again, around 3 p.m local time. The data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) stated that the volcanic ash spewing from it had reached 2,500 meters. Such information had been reinforced by the villagers around Mt. Agung, who stated that the eruption was followed by higher seismic intensity, far higher than the earthquakes at the initial crisis.
Report resulted that a day before, Mt. Agung had also erupted, spewing volcanic ash that reached 2.5 km. Air-fall ash due to the eruption had also been reported around Mt. Agung area. Up to Sunday, 12:00 noon local time, Mt. Agung status was Awas or Level 4, the highest for volcanic ash.
Awas or Level 4 status indicates the higher possibility for a mountain to commence bigger eruption. Sadly, the local Government had actually revoked the emergency response status for Mt. Agung mitigation.
Adding insult to injury, the Minister of the Republic of Indonesia had previously stated that Bali status was WASPADA (Level 3), while PVBMG-issued status was clearly unmoving from the highest AWAS (Level 4).
In response to these conditions, we, as the Balizen civil society, hereby state the followings:
- Disappointed by the decision form the Bali government to revoke the emergency response status without any solid ground, considering Mt. Agung Level 4 status. Such revocation would confuse the refugees and general population in Bali.
- Asking Bali local government to reconsider the revocation of emergency response status, compassionately and with good will, taking into account the lives of villagers around Mt. Agung with the potential of losing their livelihood, without any pressure or interest from certain parties.
- Asking the authorities, both local and central, to pay more attention to the refugees instead of focusing more to the tourist visits.
- Asking the government to provide correct, real-time information to the refugees about Mt. Agung’s status by providing a crisis center.
- Asking government to make anticipatory and/or innovative measures in relation with insurance travel, and to airlines whose insurance are not covering the volcano eruption.
- Asking government to socialize contingency plans should a greater eruption occur, and post-disaster plans that ease people to prepare.
The aforementioned statements are drafted with two solid objectives: to be heard and to be followed up.
“Remember, we live by Mother Nature’s grace. It is not we to make a decision for her, more over to go against her!”
And may all of us be in God’s protection and His mercy.
Bali, December 24, 2017
List of the signees will be updated regularly
1. Ni Made Ras Amanda
2. Anton Muhajir
3. Catur Yudha Hariani
4. Agung Alit
5. Hira Jhamtani
6. Agung Wardana
7. Agung Parameswara
8. Pito
9. I Gede Sughiarta
10. Dudik Mahendra
11. I Wayan Suardana
12. Gede Kamajaya
13. Budi Utami
14. Syafiudin
15. Made Adnyana Ole
16. Gede Sedana Yoga
17. Matahari Timoer
18. I Ngurah Suryawan
19. Agus Sumberdana
20. Wayan Wilyana
21. Anggara Mahendra
22. Cok Sawitri
23. Agung Widiastuti
24. Rudi Waisnawa
25. Kadek Lisa Ismiandewi
26. Viar MS
27. Gusti Ayu Komang Sri Mahayuni
28. Ambarwati Kurnianingsih
29. Gayatri
30. AA Gde Ngurah Termana
31. Made Puriati
32. Gede Gandhi
33. Dwi Yani
34. Wahyu Budi Nugroho
35. Nyoman Sukma Arida
36. Ni Made Tisnawati
37. Dicky Hartono
38. Fais Abdillah
39. Novian Hariawan
40. Putu Candra
41. Yayuk Fatmawati
42. Gde Putra
43. Adithya Faisal Winoto
44. Wayan Broklyn
45. Didi Suprapta
46. Asep Hidayat
47. Degung Santikarma
48. Sugeng Harjono
49. Surya Anaya
50. Niluh Putu Ary Pertami
51. Umbu Remu Samapaty
52. Hadhi Kusuma
53. Suriadi Darmoko
54. Rudolf Dethu
55. Adi Mantara
56. Deblag
57. Ucok Manggala
58. IB Gunada
59. Kenny Lay
60. Gede Kartika Budyasa
61. Iman D Nugroho
62. Ayu Kartika Sari Dewi
63. Wayan Artana
64. Asana Viebeke Lengkong
65. Rucina Ballinger
66. Ayu Weda
67. Yangdipertuan Angin Lilush
68. Made Yoni
69. Suliati Boentaran
70. Karina Yang Shanti
71. Tini Wahyuni
72. Antida Darsana
73. Wayan Udiana
74. Luh Putu Anggreni
75. Putu Parnata
76. Vidyawaty
77. Hani Duarsa
78. Ni Gusti Ayu Sri Utami
79. Alma
80.Ni Putu Candra Dewi
81. Ayu Winastri
This article translated to English by Pito.
