Massive protests against PT KEM continues
Thursday, September 16 2004 - 04:02 AM WIB
Massive protests against gold mining company PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (PT KEM) in West Kutai, East Kalimantan continued on Wednesday as the local government still refuse to help protesting villagers to obtain compensation from the company, the local Kaltim Post daily reported on Thursday.
The daily said that the number of protesters had increased from 200 people to more than 800 people as the situation got worse after the angry villagers took the regent’s deputy Valentinus Tingang as hostage on Tuesday.
The villagers threatened to continue to “seize” Valentinus at his office until the government held a negotiation with KEM to settle their compensation demand.
The villagers who claimed themselves the victims of KEM’s operation demanded compensation of between Rp 17 million each for the loss of business opportunities due to the operation of the company, which is now preparing the closure of the mining site after more than 20 years of operation. (*)