President Urges People In MT Merapi's Danger Zone To Relocate

Yogyakarta, Oct 18 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked villagers living in Mount Merapi`s danger zone to move to sites set up by the government for their permanent relocation. Yudhoyono on Friday visited the Pagerjurang permanent relocation area in Sleman, Yogyakarta, which was set up by the government after the last eruption of Mount Merapi. He instructed local authorities to continue convincing villagers to leave the danger zone. The responsibility of protecting people from natural disasters and moving them to safe areas lies with the government. Indonesia is very rich in natural resources and its land is very fertile. But, at the same time, the country is prone to natural disasters, the President noted. Mount Merapi had erupted on October 26, 2010, destroying 2,682 houses in Yogyakarta and 175 houses in Central Java. Later, the government had built 1,737 houses in nine relocation areas, including Karangkendal, Pagerjurang, Plosokerep, Dongkelsari Kuwang, Randusari, Batur, Gondang 2, and Gondang 3. During Friday`s visit, the Head of State was accompanied by Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, Sleman District Head Stri Purnomo, and National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Syamsul Ma`arif among others. A number of ministers also made the trip along with the president. They included Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto; Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi; Agriculture Minister Suswono; and Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari E Pangestu.