Balikpapan Police, Pertamina hold security simulation

The Balikpapan Police and the local unit of the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina held on Tuesday a security simulation in case of a possible unrest or massive demonstration in the future, the local Radar Kaltim daily reported on Wednesday.

The paper said that during the simulation, Pertamina was attacked by hundreds of protesters threatening to set company?s office on fire and even to explode the local oil refinery facility. The paper said that 400 of the company?s security guards could not deal with the demonstrators, prompting them to ask for a back up from the local police unit and the provincial police. The security forces had to shoot rubber bullets and used tear gas to end the brutal demonstration.

The paper said the Balikpapan police chief himself led the simulation program.

Security has been one of the main concerns of oil and gas investors operating in various provinces in the country.(*)