Pertamina reported to S. Sumatra police
Tuesday, February 27 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
The Indonesian Environmental Legal Aid Foundation (Walhi) has filed a complaint at the South Sumatra Police against state oil and gas company Pertamina for oil pollution affecting Pasang river in Muara Enim, South Sumatra.
Walhi's South Sumatra director Rachmat Setiawan asked the police to investigate environmental crimes committed by Pertamina through oil pollution that had caused suffering to people living in the Pasang river banks, especially in Sialingan village.
Rachmat said Yalhi had conducted its own investigation into oil pollution, and found some evidences that Pertamina's oil wells had polluted Pasang River, especially in Sialingan village, about 139 kilometers south of Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra.
As reported earlier, a number of Sialingan villagers took their case to the South Sumatra Legislative Council's Commission D. They claimed that they could not anymore consumer water from Pasang river. The oil pollution had also caused 2,178 rubber trees unproductive. When dry season comes, the pollution lefts blackish substance like asphalt along the riverbanks.
According to Walhi, oil pollution at Pasang River especially comes from two oil wells, namely Tanjung Tiga (TT) 20 and TT 38 wells. (*)