Armed group launch grenade attack on Exxon-Mobil's water facilities

An armed group launched a grenade attack on the water pump station of American oil and gas company Exxon-Mobil in Lhok Sukon, North Aceh Wednesday evening as the armed conflict between the separatist group and the armed forces built in the province.

Waspada daily reported the grenade hit the company's water pump facilities but Republika daily the grenade attacks also hit the company's bachelor camp, warehouse and security guards station.

Waspada quoted a company employee as saying that the 30-strong group of masked and armed people first expelled the company's security guards before launched the attack.

The company's Arun gas fields have been attacked with grenades for four consecutive nights, causing fear among the local people.

"We could not sleep any longer here," a local resident said.

Meanwhile, Tempo Interaktif reported Exxon-Mobil have asked most of its employees to stay home following the rise in terrors in the area.

The online service, which monitored the company's operation in Lhokseumawe on Thursday, found few people in the company's office and production facilities as most of the workers stayed home.

The company's operation has become the target of violence and terror several times since the conflict between the Aceh province's separatist group and the country's armed forces erupted after the downfall of former President Soeharto in 1998.

Several buildings and vehicles of the company have been burned down, and an aircraft chartered by the company was attacked by armed group in March this year.

Company spokesman Muslim Basya refused to make comments, but an anonymous employee said only 25 percent of the company's 800 employees were allowed to continue working.

The worker said the company gave priority to the safety of its workers.

"Here, the safety of workers is a top priority for the management. Since the company still faced terror form the unidentified armed group until yesterday, today only a quarter of the employees were allowed to work," the worker said.

He said thus far there was no official announcement from the company as to when all the employees may start working again.

All the employees were given access to an emergency call number to know the latest development.

Meanwhile, Serambi Indonesia reported tens of employees and staffers of the vital projects in Lhokseumawe, including Exxon-Mobil, said they have accepted letters from unknown people asking for between Rp 5 million and Rp 10 million (US$1=Rp 7,915) in funds for struggle.

In the letters, the unknown people threatened to set ablaze their houses if they refused to pay the funds. (*)