Again, PT KEM under the villagers' blockade

At least 250 villagers again blockaded the access road leading to the mining location of PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (PT KEM) in West Kutai, East Kalimantan, demanding compensation from the company, Kompas reported on Monday.

The blockade, which has been carried out by the angry villagers since last Tuesday has put the company and its staff in a critical situation. The incident has cut the supplies of food and logistics to the company.

The blockade was at least the third by the villagers this month. They protested the company's refusal to pay compensation to them. They demanded a total compensation of Rp 186 billion for 500 villagers living near the mining area or Rp 367 million each, for the loss of the business opportunities resulting from the operation of PT KEM's mining activities.

In addition, the villagers also demanded a compensation for the damages of the graves of their dead relatives and families. The company is required to pay Rp 100 million for the damage of each grave. The company is also required to pay a compensation for the use of their land by the company.

PT KEM, which is now in the process of closing its gold mining activities due to the depletion of the gold deposit, said that all the compensation related to the use of the villagers' property and others had been paid in 1988 before the company began its production. (*)