Local NGO vows to mobilize large crowds to protest oil and gas firms
Monday, June 12 2000 - 03:30 AM WIB
The East Kalimantan Care Forum organization (FP Kaltim), a local non-government organization, vowed at the weekend to mobilize a huge number of crowds to protest oil and gas firms operating in the province if they declined to settle the various demands of the local people.
Head of the forum Aji S. Hussein Hasyim was quoted by the local Suara Kaltim daily as saying that the crowds would be driven to shut down the oil and gas operations by blockading the road, occupying the oil and gas sites, and the offices.
Aji said that the Forum would give the state oil and gas firm Pertamina and its foreign oil and gas contractors three months to immediately negotiate with the local people to settle the various demands.
He added that the foreign oil and gas firms should realize that they've exploited the local natural resources for many long years.
He also said that last week's peaceful demonstration at the office of PT Vico was only small in terms of the number of demonstrators. He said that the forum could mobilize a much larger number of crowds than the 100 crowds participated in the Vico demonstration. (*)