JATAM to help villagers file legal suit against Vico

The JATAM mining network, an local non-governmental organization (NGO), will help the people of the Tani Biru village in Anggana sub district, in Samarinda, East Kalimantan to file charges against oil and gas company PT Vico Indonesia which had been using explosives in its mining exploration activities and causes environmental damage, the local Jaya Post daily reported on Wednesday.

The paper quoted JATAM executive director M. Ramli as saying that it would form an alliance with international and national NGOs to press the charges against Vico if the company did not pay compensation to the villagers by April.

The paper said that the Vico activity had negatively affected the shrimp farming of the local villagers.

Ramli said that the case had actually been settled with the help of the local Kutai Kertanegara administration in December, in which Vico agreed to provide compensation. But until the company fails to honor its commitment.(*)