Reflections from Opposite Shores

Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Almost 16 years have passed, but the human tragedy that is Kedungombo remains. A local resident says that up until now he hasnt received a single cent of compensation from the giant dam project in Central Java. And his village? It lies beneath the waters of the dams flood area. The Kedungombo Damone of the four largest in Indonesiawas built amid much tumult: A total of 37 villages in seven districts were submerged and 5,268 families were forcibly removed from their homes with scant compensation. Those who resisted were branded as communists or sent to transmigration locations. The New Order authorities took over the peoples land to construct the massive dam. Still, some were successful in extricating themselves from the tragedy and have managed to reap benefits and prosperity from the waters that were once a source of tales of resistance. For several weeks, TEMPO observed from up close the two facessad and prosperousof Kedungombo as it is today. What follows is the report.

. tempo : 173166622715.

Over the past few years, the barren hill has been transformed into an island surrounded by water. The remote area was once filled by the sounds of domestic or farm animals and the sweet chirps and twitters of birds. But that afternoon, a different kind of sound filled the air: the serene strains of prayers. People sitting cross-legged on mats reading tahlil (repeated recitation of confession of the Muslim faith) and salawat (short prayers con

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