Flood Victims: 243 Residents Sue Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan Rp 42.3 Billion

As many as 243 Jakarta residents filed a lawsuit against DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan for mishandling the 2020 Jakarta floods to the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday (1/13/2020). They also asked for compensation of Rp 42.3 billion for being victims of the flooding
As many as 243 Jakarta residents filed a lawsuit against  Jakarta's Governor, Anies Baswedan for mishandling the 2020 Jakarta floods to the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday (1/13/2020).

They also asked for compensation of Rp 42.3 billion for being victims of the flooding. The lawsuit was registered under number 27 / Pdt.GS / Class Action / 2020 / PN.Jkt.Pst.

"Today we are from the 2020 Jakarta Flood Advocacy Team, we are today registering a lawsuit about the Jakarta flood that occurred on January 1, yes at the start of the new year. Now our lawsuit is addressed to DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan," said a member of the Jakarta Flood Advocacy Team , Azas Tigor Nainggolan, in Central Jakarta District Court, Jalan Bungur Besar Raya, Central Jakarta, as rerported by Detik on Monday (1/13/2020).

Read also: Jakarta to Ban Single-use Plastic Bags Starting July 2020

Flood at Kampung Melayu residential area, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Alvon K Palma, another one of the Flood Victims Advocacy Team, said the lawsuit was filed because Anies as the governor was considered negligent in carrying out his duties.

He also stated that there was no early information related to flooding from the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta to the public, especially regional areas on the Ciliwung River banks.

"Is that so, please just verify whether there was or not (early warning). The proof is that on December 23 it was told by the BMKG (Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency). However, from December 31 to January 1 there was no notification to the public," Alvon said to Kompas on Monday (1/13/2020) in Central Jakarta District Court, Monday.


In addition, the lawsuit was also filed because the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is considered slow to respond to victims affected by the flood. For example, there were a number of residents who were not evacuated, lack of logistics and medical equipments.

Anies is considered to have violated Law Number 24 of 2007 concerning Disaster Management and Government Regulation Number 21 of 2008 concerning Implementation of Disaster Management.

Alvon said, with the lawsuit, Anies was expected to pay compensation money for flood victims' losses of Rp 42 billion. In addition, he also hopes that with this lawsuit, the government can map flood-prone area.

Reported by Detik, at least 651 Jakarta residents have registered with the 2020 DKI Jakarta Flood Victims Advocacy Team to sue Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan as of January 13 2020. However not all of them have filed law suit.


Jakarta 2020 Flooding Damage


Reported by BBC Indonesia on January 5 2020, experts said that lood losses in Jakarta and its surrounding areas are estimated to exceed Rp10 trillion. It also caused 67 people to lost their lives, as of January 5, 2020.

Flooding which started in early 2020 New Year submerged at least 7 villages from 4 sub-districts in Jakarta.

The seven villages are Makasar Village, Pinang Ranti Village, Halim Perdanakusuma, Kampung Melayu, Rorotan, Rawa Buaya, and South Manggarai.

Floods not only submerged residential areas, but also protocol roads. A number of public transportation ranging from transjakarta, KRL, to flights at Halim Perdanakusuma airport were also forced to be canceled due to flooding.

Flooding also caused power cuts by PLN (Indonesia's National Electric Company. PLN Jakarta Raya Distribution put out electricity in 724 areas of Jakarta which were flooded.


Government Effort to Reduce Rainfall in Jakarta


Indonesia's Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BBPT) and together with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) initiated salt seeding operation through Weather Modification Technology (TMC).

This salt seeding has been done since Friday (1/3/2020) or two days after extreme rain which caused flooding in the Greater Jakarta area.

This salt seeding aims to create rain that comes from active clouds so it does not fall in the Greater Jakarta area. Thus, rain was estimated to fall around the Sunda Strait waters and in the Java Sea.

Indonesian Air Force deployed two aircraft, namely the CN-295 and Cassa 212-200. The CN-295 aircraft can carry around 2.4 tons of salt in each flight, while the Cassa 212 aircraft can accommodate 800 kg per flight.

Reported by Kompas on January 13, 2020, the seeding process were carried out at an altitude of 10,000-12,000 feet. The targeted clouds outside Greater Jakarta which exposed to salt turn rainfall before entering the area.

The weather modification operation that was held by BPPT and TNI-AU has reduced 30 to 50 percent rainfall intensity in Jabodetabek.

Read also: Indonesian Armed Forces Continue Patrols as 30 Foreign Ships Detected in the North Natuna Sea