Dayak people in East Kalimantan files complaint against coal mining firm

The Dayak people in East Kalimantan has filed a complaint to the Human Rights Commission against coal mining firm PT Gunung Bayan Prima Coal (GBPC) over alleged environmental pollution, and intimidation of the local people, the Radar Kaltim daily reported on Thursday.

The paper quoted head of the Dayak community grouping Petrus Aswi as saying that GBPC?s waste products had polluted the local Sungai Jengen river in West Kutai regency, causing the people to be no longer able to consume the water.

Petrus also said that the company had intimidated the local people to sell their land at cheap price. The company had also manipulated the land compensation.

The Dayak people now demands 30 of GBPC?s production, and requires the company to first processed its waste product before releasing it to the local river.

Separately, head of the East Kalimantan Human Rights Commission Metodius Nyompe said that his office would immediately hold investigation over the alleged crime committed by GBPC.

?If the company is proven to have caused serious losses to the (Dayak) people, we?ll report them to the authority, that is the police,? he said.(*)