East Kalimantan police vows to be tough against blockage actions

East Kalimantan police chief vowed on Friday to take tough actions against any blockage of companies' activities in the province, saying the blockages were dangerous and could cause unrest and taint the province's reputation among foreign investors.

Inspector general Togar M Sianipar told reporters the numerous blockage cases in the province resulted from the miscommunication between disputing parties.

Police, he said, would stick to the existing law and would take tough actions against any blockage of vital projects of the state because the blockage could endanger the nation's economy.

For instance, he said, the blockage of oil and gas company PT Vico Indonesia by the company's subcontractor workers had cost the government US$11.2 million

Sianipar said the police had arrested the provincial chief of the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Labor (SBSI) Kawilarang on charges of encouraging the workers to blockade Vico's operation.

"They (SBSI) may sue the police over the action, but we have enough reasons and evidences," he was quoted by Kompas as saying. (*)