Councilor allegedly backs Premier Oil operation in Gresik

The speaker of the Gresik District Legislative Council (in East Java), Ir Bambang Suhartono, would summons Council deputy speaker Anwar Sadat to get his clarifications with regards to people's report that Anwar backed up the operation of oil firm PT Premier Oil in Ujung Pangkah, Gresik, that had been protested by local people.

Bambang said people from Ujung Pangkah had complained to him that Anwar had always acted as mediator between Premier Oil and local people who rejected the presence of Premier Oil's oil exploration activities in their area. .

"We have got the reports from the people. To take a conclusion whether Anwar is involved or not, we have to question him to get his clarifications," Bambang said after meeting with representatives of Ujung Pangkah farmers on Thursday.

H Ma'ad Adnan, the chairman of Ujung Pangkah shrimp ponds owners association, led a team of farmers and youths from Ujung Pangkah in a number of meetings with the speaker of the Council, and Gresik regent KH Robbach Ma'sum.

In those meetings, Ma'ad, accompanied by Ujung Pangkah youth chairman Ilham, expressed the farmers' rejection against Premier Oil's operation in their areas on the ground that the company's oil exploration activities in the area could inflict losses to them.

Earlier reports said Premier Oil was exploring for oil right in the estuary of the Solo river in Ujung Pangkah, Gresik. Some councilors, including Masykur Has of the Nation's Awakening Party faction and Muslih Abduh of the Join Faction, have claimed that Premier Oil's operation, that is too close to the coast, could endanger the environment and inflict losses to local fishermen and farmers.

Ilham charged Anwar Sadat, a councilor representing Ujung Pangkah, of betraying the people by siding to Premier Oil. The oil company always used the service of Anwar to mediate with local people whenever there was a conflict with local people.

Anwar Sadat, however, refuted the allegation. "During the last Idul Fitri festival, all Council leaders got packages from Premier Oil. I did not. Why could people charge me of backing up Premier Oil?"

He said that what he had done thus far was for the interest of Ujung Pangkah people. He called on the people to judge fairly the presence of Premier Oil in their areas whether it would benefit them or not.

"If its presence does not bring benefits, I would agree that the plan to explore for oil should be called off, provided that it is taken based on an objective scientific research," Anwar said, adding that Ujung Pangkah people would benefit financially if Premier Oil continued with its operation. (*)