Kutai Fishermen intercept Unocal vessel

Hundreds of fishermen from Kutai, East Kalimantan on Friday intercepted and then guarded to the shores six expedition vessels belonging to PT Union Oil California (Unocal) Indonesia that were conducting gas exploration at Kuala Samboja waters in Kutai, Kompas daily reported on Saturday.

The six vessels were about to drill a number of exploration wells, but suddenly hundreds of fishermen vessels came to them and told all Unocal crew to stop their activities, and then they guarded all the vessels to Samboja beach.

According to Kutai Police chief Wagner Damanik and Kuala Samboja Police chief Akadianto all confirmed about the interception of Unocal vessels by local fishermen.

They said that the fishermen told the vessels not to continue their exploration activities, that the fishermen considered to have negatively affected their lives as fishermen.

The policemen said there were no violence actions during the interception. All proceeded peacefully.

Unocal Indonesia spokesman Sutavijaya said Friday night that the company had conducted a meeting with local fishermen to end the dispute.

"Principally, Unocal will always abide by whatever decisions coming from the government," Sutavijaya said. (*)