LAPINDO’S mudflow disaster has entered its fifth year. But the process of payment of compensation for villagers’ land flooded by hot mud is not yet over. In fact, by Presidential Regulation No.14/2007, the government has ordered PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya—the company of Aburizal Bakrie—to buy the assets of residents as a form of compensation.

The gushing mud has covered about 641 hectares of land in 18 villages, scattered over the districts