Dayak tribesmen meet Governor to protest Arutmin

Some 12 Dayak tribesmen from the Bangkalaan area in Kelumpang Hulu sub district, Kotabaru district, South Kalimantan, met on Tuesday with Governor HM Sjachriel Darham to demand back their cultural land now under the control of coal mining company PT Arutmin.

The protesting Dayak people said that they made the demand because Arutmin had controlled the 4,705 hectare land in the Lipon village for around 20 years but the company had not mined the area, which makes the local people to be unable to benefit from the local coal resource.

"Since 1981 until now, the 4,705 ha land in Lipon controlled by Arutmin has not changed. We want our land back so that we can work on the land," Yusriansyah, one of the protesting Dayaks, was quoted by the local Banjarmasin Post daily.

The protestin Dayak tribesmen also told the governor that the economic and health condition of the people in Bankalaan was worse than the people in other areas.

Sjachriel promised to summon Arutmin to help resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, the paper quoted Arutmin external supervisor as saying that the company's mining operation would gradually reach the Lipon area. He said that Arutmin was ready to work together with the local people to mine the area.

Arutmin, which is controlled by Australian giant BHP is Indonesia's fourth largest coal producer with the output of 8.2 million tones in 2000. (*)