One coal worker shot as protests escalate

At least one was shot and four others were injured when the police opened a fire at protesting workers at the office of the state owned coal mining company PT Bukit Asam in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera, Suara Express reported on Friday.

The daily said that the incident occurred when the former workers of PT Sumber Mitra Jaya, one of the coal operator's contractors in the area, tried to break into the office of the state owned company.

But the local police said that the victims only suffered minor injuries. "They have been admitted to go home after a light treatment in the local hospital," the chief of the Muara Enim police Bambang Sugiarto.

Hundreds of the former workers of Sumber Mitra have seized tens of Sumber Mitra vehicles as the company refused to meet their demand, while their wives and children stayed over night at nearby Bukit Asam office.

The workers said that they were forced to enter the office of Sumber Mitra office at the third flour of the Bukit Asam building as the management continued to refuse to talk to the workers.

At least 300 workers were dismissed by Sumber Mitra several months ago due to the decline in its works but the workers opposed the dismissal because the company did not give enough severance payment.

A number of negotiations mediated with the local government have been carried out but the talks always failed. The Sumber Mitra has agreed to pay Rp 1 billion in the severance payment but the workers, who demanded a total of Rp 1.8 billion, refused the offer. (*)