Bomb hoax at Arutmin

South Kalimantan coal producer PT.Arutmin Indonesia had received bomb threat from unidentified caller, threatening to blow the company?s North Pulau Laut Coal Terminal (NPLCT) coal loading facilities.

Kotabaru regent Sjachrani Mataja was quoted by the local Banjarmasin Post daily as saying that the threat was made on Sunday night, June 27, 2004. The regent said the caller asked Aritmin to pull out all tug boats from NPLCT as there would be explosion caused by bomb at the facilities.

He further said that Arutmin had report the case to local police.

However, an Arutmin official when contacted by Petromindo.Com, declined to confirm the report. ?I?ve never heard such thing,? said Sonny Pangestu, Arutmin?s senior official.

Arutmin, a subsidiary of JSX-listed coal mining giant Bumi Resources, had had problems with local fishermen, who were asking for compensation for the claim that NPLCT activities had make it difficult for them to fish. According to the daily?s report, some 150 fishermen had held protest, demanding Arutmin to pay them compensation money. (*)