CPI road construction halted due to protests

The road construction works at the mining site of PT Caltex Pasific Indonesia (CPI) at Tengganau village of the Mandau district, Bengkalis resumed again on Friday after being halted by the local residents.

"Activities are normal again after the protesting residents and the CPI management settled their differences," a source at the oil giant said.

At least 50 villagers seized heavy equipment facilities on the road construction site on Thursday as a protest against the CPI management's refusal to pay a fair compensation for the land used for the road, causing a total halt in the road construction works.

The oil mining company said it had paid the compensation for the land to at least 42 residents in the village based on the recommendation from the village chief. But the protesters said the payment went to wrong persons and claimed that they were the real owners of the land. (*)