Antang Gunung Meratus protested for causing pollution

The Dayak people in Tapin Selatan district, South Kalimantan have once again launched a protest against coal mining company PT Antang Gunung Merarus (AGM) for allegedly polluting the local environment, Banjarmasin Post reported on Wednesday.

The Dayak residents have also charged that the mining company had illegally taken over 34 hectares of rice fields owned by the residents.

According to residents, AGM bought the rice fields from wrong persons who claimed as the rightful owners of the property. “How could it happen. We, as the rightful owners of the rice fiends, were not informed about the transaction,” said one of the residents.

The residents then reported to case to the police and demanded a fair compensation from the sale of their rice fields to AGM.

AGM’s coal mining area is located in four regencies in South Kalimantan including Hulu Sungai Selatan (HSS), Banjar, Tapin and Hulu Sungai Tengah.

The company in the past had also faced difficulties from both the local people and local administrations.

For instance, in October, the HSS authority temporarily suspended AGM's local operation amid charges that the operation did not have legal permit. The ban was only lifted recently.(*)