Marangkayu villagers still demand cash settlement from Unocal
Monday, October 16 2000 - 02:30 AM WIB
The Marangkayu villagers in Bontang, East Kalimantan, still demand a cash settlement from oil and gas company Unocal for the alleged environmental pollution which has caused damage to their farm land.
Spokesman of the villagers, Buherah (one name) was quoted by the local Kaltim Post daily as saying that the protesting villagers rejected the deal reached last week by Unocal and the provincial House of Representatives in which the oil and gas company would provide compensation in the form of community development program.
"We strongly demand the company to pay cash for the damage it caused to our land," Buherah said.
He added that implementing a community development program was an obligation of the oil and gas company.
Buherah also said that from now on, the villagers wanted a direct negotiation with Unocal not via the legislators.
The Marangkayu villagers recently made a road blockade at Unocal's area protesting the company's operation which had polluted their farming land. The villagers demand compensation. But during their protest, the villagers were involved in a clash with the local police causing some villagers to be injured.
Buherah said that two of the injured villagers would go to the National Commission on Human rights in Jakarta to protest the brutal action of the local police.
Meanwhile, Unocal spokesman Syamsulistyo said that the company was basically ready to negotiate with the villagers, but the cash settlement demand was against the company policy and could create a negative impact. (*)