Local landlord threatens to send thousands of villagers to attack PT Badak NGL

Aco Abubakar Sidik, a local landlord in Sekambing village, Bontang regency, East Kalimantan province, threatened to send thousands of villagers to attack liquefied natural gas producer PT Badak NGL Co. unless the authority take legal action against Badak security officers who had attacked him and his men earlier this week.

"We will come down together with thousands of people who have been oppressed if the August 21 incident is not settled according to the law. I have with me some 1,500 men ready to make a move even though we may face death," Aco said during a visit to the local Kaltim Post daily headquarters on Thursday.

The clash between security officers and Aco and his men started when the latter was asked by the security men to put off the fire they set on fears of massive explosion because it was near PT Badak's pipeline facility.

But Aco declined to follow the order and instead asked the security officers to move because they had trespassed Aco's land. Aco owns some 11.9 ha of land, which is being passed through by PT Badak pipeline.

The clash caused five people injured including one security officers hospitalized.

The clash was dispersed by the Bontang police unit.

Meanwhile, Aco also demanded PT Badak to pay some Rp 25 billion (US$1=Rp 8,300) in compensation because the company had been using his sands since 1983.

Aco said that he had loss patience against Badak for 17 years. He also described Badak as a monster digging the grave of the Bontang people.

"I'm not kidding. I will prove my words (to attack) if the security officers who attacked my men are not being legally processed," Aco said. (*)