Viral, East Nusa Tenggara Residents Refuse To Meet Risma, Minister Of Social Affairs: No Rejection

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini (Photo: Twitter @Tri_Rismaharini)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) denied the news that a number of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) residents refused to meet with Social Minister Tri Rismaharini.

Head of The Publication and News Section of Minister Of Social Affairs, Herman Koswara said there was no rejection of any kind from the community. In fact, Risma has been several times to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to review the post-incident condition of flash floods.

"Mrs. Risma came to East Nusa Tenggara with no rejection. In fact, she twice came and visited the affected people," Head of Publication and News Department of Minister Of Social Affairs, Herman Koswara told VOI, Sunday, April 11.

This was conveyed in response to a viral video mentioning the rejection of assistance and the arrival of Risma by East Nusa Tenggara residents. The trigger is because there's the documentation for granting that help. Residents denied any documentation.

According to him, documentation and distribution of aid are important because it becomes evidence. However, Herman did not elaborate on the aid withdrawn after the documentation process was completed.

"If any donor asks to be documented it is natural, to make sure that the aid is there," he said.

It was previously reported that it went viral on social media showing how some residents refused help which they called just an imaging event. They also refused to meet the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini.

In a Twitter account @ipunglombok uploaded, it says donations were given to refugees as mere formalities. Indeed, in the video, it appears a resident in a long-sleeved shirt asks the donors to take home donated items.

"Donations of flood disasters are only a formality to be shot and then taken home again and tomorrow, out the broadcast has sent help. Our village gets flooded becomes the formality aid given for the news," he wrote.

"We were told to search, through the valley, we bet our life, not because take care of this stuff sir, just take it home," said the volunteer.," said the volunteer.

"There are still many donors whose hearts are sincere, don't because of this stuff you do not consider us sirs," he added.

"If you want a minister or deputy governor to come here, the deputy governor last night talked to me on TV, he said he wanted to come here, but if the procedure is like this, take it here, photographed and then brought it again, take it straight home, it's too complicated, just take it home sir, we don't need it," he said.

Furthermore, the man in the green shirt also expressed resistance to the district officers. The reason is, there's never been a district officer seen since the first day of flooding.

"Come just after D day, as if to rule us here. Sir, our post is a pure volunteer post. We don't discriminate," he said.

The volunteer also claimed to be disappointed because the district was seemed to herd the refugees to meet the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini who was in the district office.

Why do the refugees have to meet Risma? That's what they think. 'That's what we don't want. If the minister wants to meet with refugees, then the minister comes here."

"They (refugees) should not get out of here, because the physical and psychic are sick, why brought us to meet healthy people just because they are officials."

"If you want a minister or deputy governor to come here, the deputy governor last night talked to me on TV, he said he wanted to come here, but if the procedure is like this, take it here, photographed and then brought it again, take it straight home, it's too complicated, just take it home sir, we don't need it," he said.