Adaro alleged of unfairness in buying villagers' land

Villagers in the North Hulu Sungai regency and Tabalong regency in South Kalimantan province protested coal mining firm PT Adaro Indonesia for offering a very cheap price for their land, according to Kalimantan Post daily in its Friday edition.

The villagers said that Adaro offered a price, which was much lower than the price level agreed with the North Hulu Sungai and Tabalong regents of around Rp 2,500 per square meter.

Kapos quoted Mukri, one of the protesting villagers, as saying that his parcel was being offered at Rp 50 per sqm, which he said was equal to a price of a candy.

Meanwhile, Adaro general manager Edy Suwigny denied the allegations. He said that Adaro was offering a price according to agreement reached with the two regents.

Adaro wanted to buy the land of the villagers to expand its mining operation.

But the paper reported that Adaro was cooperating with the village leaders to get a cheaper land price by telling the villagers that the would be employed by the company if the sell the land at a cheap price.(*)