KEM to resume operation
By George Blunt
Saturday, May 13 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The giant coal mining operation in East Kalimantan PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) is expected to immediately resume its operation after the road to the mining site which had been recently blockaded by the local people has now been opened.
Director general of mining at the Ministry of Mines and Energy Surna T. Djajadiningrat said on Friday that KEM would start a negotiation process with the local people to settle compensation claims over land acquired by the company.
But Surna said that the government would not intervene in the negotiation process.
The Suara Pembaruan evening daily quoted KEM media relations officer Kasan Mulyono as saying that the road which had been closed down by local protesters since April 19 has been reopened on Thursday.
KEM had to shut down its operation for 11 days after the local people blockaded the road causing the company to be unable to transport basic supplies including fuel to the mining site.
The local people in Kelian village, Longiram in West Kutai regency, demanded KEM to pay compensation for their land acquired by the company. (*)