East Kalimantan cooperatives promise not to disrupt Lanna Harita

Local cooperatives in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, grouped in a forum called Kopenbra promised not to disrupt the operation of coal mining firm PT Lanna Harita Indonesia despite ongoing land dispute with the company, the local Metro Balikpapan daily reported Tuesday.

The paper quoted Kopenbra chief Idris as saying that the cooperatives would wait for the decision of the Samarinda mayoralty administration.

Idris said that the cooperatives would not take actions would be detrimental to investment climate in the area.

The cooperatives grouping has accused Lanna Harita of illegally taking over some 60 million ha in Samarinda belonging to the cooperatives. But the company dismissed the accusation saying that it had obtained the necessary papers to exploit the plot of land.

Land dispute between local people and mining companies have often ended up with blockade of the mining operation by the people.(*)