Local coal miners plan to stage demonstration against Arutmin

Several local coal miners in Tanah Bumbu regency, South Kalimantan, plan to stage a demonstration against coal mining company PT Arutmin Indonesia, the local Banjarmasin Post daily reported on Tuesday.

The paper quoted one of the local coal miner who requested for anonimity as saying that Arutmin had often reported

the local coal miners to the police for illegal mining.

The protesting coal miner acknowledged that they had been mining in the concession area of Arutmin, but he accused Arutmin of discrimination as the company only took action against certain coal miners. He pointed out that coal miners from Jakarta who are operating on Arutmin concession had been free to operate although they have also moved to areas beyond what has been permitted by Arutmin. "This is just the same like illegal miners."

He added that the local coal miners had also obtained permit from the local government.

He said that the planned demonstration is aimed at ensuring that the local coal miners could get greater access to mine coal in the area.(*)