Journalists, activists to hold workshop on KPC divestment
Saturday, August 25 2001 - 04:21 AM WIB
The seminar titled ?Searching for the Best Solution to the Divestment Process of PT KPC in East Kalimantan? would be held on Sept. 1 at the Bumi Senyiur hotel in the province?s capital of Samarinda, chief organizer Rudy MZ said Friday at the governor?s office.
He said the workshop was co-organized by East Kalimantan?s Forum of Journalists and Writers and six NGOs, including Terang 2030, LAK, Autonomy Center, Social Advocacy Foundation, Anak Zaman Foundation, and 2A2KIN.
The workshop aims to search for the truth behind the divestment of KPC?s shares and to wipe out provocateurs who could trouble the local and regional economy using the divestment issue.
It also aims to examine whether there were parties who had violated the international agreement in solving the divestment issue and to provide opportunities for East Kalimantan ?s people and businessmen to actively participate in the divestment process of KPC?s shares, Rudy said.
Speakers expected to hold speeches at the workshop include Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Punomo Yusgiantoro, head of the National Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Theo Temion and former Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid.
East Kalimantan?s governor Suwarna AF, the representatives of KPC and PT Intan, which is tipped to be the financial backer of the East Kalimantan province in its efforts to acquire KPC?s shares, were also asked to speak during the workshop, he said.
KPC has been demanded by the East Kalimantan provincial administration to sell 51 percent of its shares to the province but no agreement has been reached regarding the price of the shares and the provincial administration has thus far remained tight-lipped about its financial backer.
KPC is equally owned by Anglo Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and Anglo American energy giant BP PLC. (*)