LHI defends mining operation

Spokesman of coal mining firm PT Lanna Harita Indonesia (LHI) Bachtiar said Monday that his company had obtained the necessary licenses from the local Samarinda mayoralty administration in East Kalimantan to the central government in Jakarta to exploit the disputed 60 hectare site in the Sungai Siring area.

Speaking in a press conference, Bachtiar was quoted by the local Kaltim Post daily as also saying that the company had completely followed the proper procedure in mining the area.

He added that the company had already previously paid compensation to five different groups claiming ownership over the 60 ha site.

A group of cooperatives had now claimed ownership over the 60 ha, and demanded LHI to stop operation in the area. The cooperatives said that they also have the necessary license from the local administration to open people?s mining in the area.

A physical incident nearly occurred on Saturday when the cooperatives people tried to blockade the heavy machinery of LHI from continuing to mine the area. But the group was attacked by LHI security guards, reports said.

Meanwhile, the local Samarinda administration and land affairs agency (BPM) are expected to immediately complete their survey to decide who would control the disputed parcel of land.(*)