Arutmin surrenders to youth group linked to President Abdurrahman
Thursday, August 24 2000 - 03:00 AM WIB
Coal mining company finally agreed to pay compensation for some 700 ha of land belonging to the people of the Sungai Sepapah area in Sampanahan sub district, Kota Baru regency, South Kalimantan.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a meeting with Banser, a youth group of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest uelemas (Moslem religious teacher) organization, which was previously chaired by Abdurrahman Wahid, now the country's President.
Some 100 Banser members have earlier occupied Arutmin's office in Balikpapan to demand the company pay the land compensation.
"We are satisfied because we have been able to help the people," Banser Balikpapan head Abdul Madjid told the Samarinda Post daily, adding that he expected the company to realize the compensation at the latest by the end of September.
He also warned Arutmin not to break its promise. "We will expel Arutmin if it doesn't keep its words," Madjid said, adding that Banser would find another investor for the area. (*)