East Kalimantan House speaker annoyed by two oil, gas firms
Thursday, October 19 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The Speaker of the East Kalimantan provincial House of Representatives Djarwo Putro expressed his disappointment over two foreign oil and gas firms including Unocal Indonesia.
Djarwo was quoted as saying by the local Kaltim Post daily that Unocal had deliberately delayed the settlement of compensation for villagers land, causing the villagers to stage demonstration and even clashed with security officers.
"It's a big lie if Unocal can't pay the compensation," Djarwo said.
A group of villagers whose land had been damaged by alleged pollution from Unocal's operation had recently staged a road blockade to demand compensation. Some villagers were injured when a clash occurred between the protesters and the local police.
In a meeting with the provincial parliament, it was agreed that Unocal would provide compensation in the form of community development program. But the protesting villagers still demand cash settlement, arguing that implementing the community development program was the company's obligation as stipulated in the contract with the government.
Djarwo said that the parliament had to intervene in the case because the villagers made the complaint against Unocal to them. He added that if Unocal had good intention from the start, the people would not have to come to the House.
Djarwo also expressed disappointment on another oil and gas firm operating in East Kalimantan, but he asked not to print the name of the company.
He said that the company had been arrogant when East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna AF borrowed the company's helicopter to visit a remote area.
He said that the company warned the local administration that they can only borrow the company's helicopter one time because the facility was expensive.
"So we sent a letter to the company to apologize to the Governor," he said.
Djarwo said that despite the change in the country's political environment, foreign oil and gas firms had not changed their attitude, long spoiled by the previous regime. (*)