Pertamina demanded to pay compensation
Wednesday, May 10 2000 - 03:30 AM WIB
State oil and gas company Pertamina has not decided whether it will pay the compensation for about 1.3 hectares of land in the Bukitdatung village of the Dumai district, Riau, it has occupied for over over 30 years, Riau Pos daily reported on Wednesday.
Waldemer Manurung, the head of the clarification team appointed by the local government to handle the land dispute, said that the local office of the state oil company had held a number of negotiations, but no decision had been made.
He said that Pertamina's office in Riau was still waiting for the Jakarta approval.
Villagers at Bukiddatung has demanded Pertamina to pay a compensation of between Rp 35,000 and Rp 65,000 for about 1.3 hectare of land used by the state oil company.
Manurung said that the local people have demanded the compensation for almost 30 years but no settlement has been made. Now the frustrated residents have more freedom to express their demand and if they received unfair treatment, the impacts could be very negative to Pertamina's operation. (*)