Dansatgas Semeru Eruption Colonel Inf Irwan Subekti Affirms No Permit To Film TMTM Soap Opera In Refugees

ANTARA DOCUMENTATION / Condition of settlements after the Semeru eruption

LUMAJANG - The Lumajang Regency Government, East Java has never issued a permit to shoot soap operas at the evacuation site for survivors of the Mount Semeru hot cloud disaster at the refugee camp which has drawn criticism from many parties.

Viral on social media circulated a video of the filming of the soap opera entitled "Forced to Marry Tuan Muda" which made the refugee post in Penanggal Village Field, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency, a shooting location and this caused criticism from various parties, including volunteers.

Lumajang Regent Thoriqul Haq told reporters in Lumajang, Thursday, that the filming of the soap opera which took place at the evacuation post for the Mount Semeru hot cloud disaster in Penanggal Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java did not have a permit.

"There is no permit letter for filming soap operas from the Regency Government, Polres, and the Semeru Task Force. The mechanism for licensing activities is at the Resort Police, but when entering the disaster area, the permit is with the Semeru Task Force Commander," he said, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 23.

The regent, who is usually called Cak Thoriq, said that no permit was issued to shoot soap operas and no permit was received by anyone, because the permit did not exist.

"Indeed, there is a licensing process from the PH or the soap opera producer who will shoot the soap opera, but we still haven't made a decision to allow it," he said.

Regarding the disposition sheet that was obtained by PT Verona Indah Pictures, Cak Thoriq said that his party was currently investigating the matter related to the existing mechanism.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Semeru Eruption Task Force, Colonel Inf. Irwan Subekti, said that his party did not know and had never given permission to shoot soap operas at the location of the Semeru disaster evacuation post in Penanggal Village.

"I don't think it's right, I've explained it and I don't allow it. There is no permit and there is no coordination. Me and the task force don't allow it," he said.

The Lumajang Police Chief AKBP Eka Yekti Hananto also conveyed the same thing, his party has never issued a permit for filming soap operas in refugee camps.

"They did not come to inform the Police and the Semeru Task Force, but we have tried to communicate with them and the person concerned apologized," he said.

Meanwhile, the production house of the soap opera Forced to Marry Tuan Muda, Verona Pictures, apologized via uploads on his Instagram account for being criticized while filming at the Mount Semeru disaster refugee location, but he admitted that he did not take advantage of the situation just for the sake of content.

"If we have offended the victims with our arrival, we sincerely apologize from the bottom of our hearts," wrote Verona Pictures from Instagram @veronapictures on Thursday.