Family blockades Adaro road
Thursday, October 12 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
A family in Warukin village, Tanta sub district, Tabalong regency, South Kalimantan, blockaded on Wednesday the coal road of coal giant PT Adaro Indonesia.
The local Banjarmasin Post daily said that the family of three made the road blockade to demand Adaro to pay compensation for the pollution of their farming land by the company's activity.
The paper said that Adaro has recently bought the farming land of 32 farmers at Rp 3,500 per square meter. The purchase was made because the land could no longer be used for farming due to the pollution.
The protesting family of the Warukin village demanded a similar treatment.
After an hour of protest, the family was escorted by the local police to negotiate at Adaro office.
Meanwhile, Adaro spokesman Martono was quoted by the paper as saying that the company would only purchase the land at a price of Rp 1,000 per square meter.
Adaro environmental officer Ronny Tambunan said that there was no obligation for the company to purchase the land if it had not been polluted.
"The water and soil have not been polluted," Ronny said.
It is not clear whether the Warukin village family would accept the Adaro offer. (*)