Demonstrators at KPC, Vico agree to end blockade
Monday, August 14 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
Two groups of protesting employees linked to the SBSI labor union agreed at the weekend to end their blockade of production facilities at coal giant PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) in the Sangatta area, and of the main road of oil and gas firm Vico in Muara Badak area, both in East Kalimantan.
The protesting employees agreed to resort to negotiation.
The agreement was reached at a meeting with several local community groupings and non-governmental organizations facilitated by the provincial Police Chief Brig. Gen. Bahrumsyah and military commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Besariman, the local Kaltim Post daily reported.
In the KPC case, the agreement said that KPC management must revoke its disciplinary warning against the protesting employees.
The protesting employees recently blockaded the company's vital production facilities causing it to be unable to run production.
KPC has to announce a force majeure situation last week.
There has been earlier speculation that KPC might have to shut down its operation due to the worsening protest.
The employees had staged a protest since June.
The protesting employees of the sub contractor of oil and gas firm Vico also agreed to end their blockade of the main road to Vico Muara Badak operation.
Abdul Wahab, a representative of the Muara Badak community, said that the area comprised of people with various ethnics and religious background. He said that the Muara Badak people wanted the protest to end peacefully because they feared that the protest particularly with the recent clash with security officers could turn into an ethnic clash.
The protesting employees, grouped in the SBSI labor union, had demanded among other things a raise in salary.
Although they are not under Vico management, the employees made the protest at Vico compound and demanded the company to help realize their demand.
They have staged a protest since early this month.
The protest became violent on Thursday as the police opened fire injuring three protesters, while the protesters were equipped with sharp weapons. In the Thursday clash, one policeman was also injured.
Spokesman of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina's foreign contractors management and development body (BPPKA) Sidick Nitikusuma confirmed that the protesting employees had agreed to end their road blockade.
But he said that the Vico employees still had to be escorted by police, as the protesting employees were still present near the gate. (--R. Amoros--)