Fishermen hold rallies over oil spill cleaning

Thousands of fishermen of Cilacap, Central Java held a demonstration on Friday demanding state oil and gas company Pertamina to hire and re-hire them to clear the area's beaches of the oil spill.

The demonstration came one day after the state company stopped all the cleaning activities on Thursday in observance of the Islamic New Year holiday on Thursday.

Spokesman of Pertamina's refinery in Cilacap Husni Banser was quoted by Kompas daily as saying that the fishermen, who had been hired by the state company in the previous days, held the protest in fear of losing the chance of continuing receiving fee from Pertamina.

Other fishermen who had not yet hired by Pertamina, wanted to participate in the cleaning works due to the good fee provided by the state company.

Pertamina has paid Rp 30,000 in fee per day for each fisherman to clear the beaches of the oil spill.

A large amount of crude oil was spilt into the area's waters and the polluted the area's beaches after the Malta-flagged King Fisher tanker carrying 600,000 crude oil hit a coral reef off the area's beaches on Saturday.

Republika reported during the demonstration, some of the fishermen burned down the ponds and the drums, which they have filled with the oil spill.

The crowd blocked all roads leading to the polluted beaches and marched to the local council where they held a meeting with the local councilors, governmental officials and Pertamina's officials.

The fishermen went home in happiness after Pertamina made a promise to re-hire them to clean up the beaches.

Spokesman Husni said the cleaning works had put financial burdens on Pertamina, noting that the state company had spent a total of Rp 260 million in fee for the fishermen over the past three days. (*)