This is the view from the jetty in Taroy, one of the so called "in-directly affected" villages in the project area. They do not have to be resettled, but their fishing grounds will be affected by the development, and as such qualify for compensation.

In fact, although the amount of money allocated to these villages is much smaller, it is still a very significant amount of money. What's more, it doesn't go through the government at all so the classic Indonesian corruption potential is bypassed. The way it works is that BP's community development team facilitate a planning process in the village. When a budget has been allocated by the community, up to the total value of that years compensation, then BP release the funds directly to the village, for each planned activity. In this village, part of the money last year was used to build walk ways (see left) - previously the whole village was just a big mud bath apparently ...



In some ways I think this is a far better way for BP to provide its compensation. There was a completely different attitude in this village compared to the one that has been resettled and everything rebuilt. A real sense of people wanting to help in the process, not just sit and wait for BP to provide everything. They have so far built a school and a clinic and put boardwalks down throughout the village. This is the Village Secretary (left) and another guy, who I met when I first got off the boat. They were very keen to have their picture taken, but in true Indonesian style, immediately stopped smiling as soon as the lens pointed their way.