Aceh Vice governor charged with making a public lie

A number of factions of the legislative council of North Aceh regency have accused Aceh?s Vice Governor Azwar Abubakar of making a public lie to the North Aceh people regarding the dividend that should be received by the regency from the government?s gas revenues.

The local councilors said that the commitment made by the deputy governor to revise the decision on the amount of oil and gas funds that must go to the North Aceh regency was only an empty promise, Serambi Indonesia reported on Monday.

According to the legislators, the portion of the oil and gas revenues distributed to the North Aceh regency is far from fair. They said areas located near the operation of ExxonMobil Indonesia should receive a larger share from the oil and gas funds.

"The villagers should receive more from the gas revenues. At present they only receive the industrial impact of the company," one of the legislators said.

According to the new oil and gas law, the share of producing areas is 15 percent for oil and 30 percent for gas. The 15 percent and 30 percent share are taken from the government?s share from total oil and gas revenue in each area. (*)