Police on alert on possible demonstration at PT Bukit Asam

The South Sumatra police have ordered its elite unit Brimob to protect coal producer PT Bukit Asam in Tanjung Enim against a possible demonstration from a group of people who oppose the company?s new management, Kompas reported on Monday.

The chief of the provincial police, Didi Widayadi, said in Palembang over the weekend that the Brimob members were sent to the town early last week after a group of people threatened to occupy the company?s headquarter as a protest to the composition of the new executive board.

"We will tolerate the demonstration as long as it is conducted peacefully. But if they try to occupy the company and disrupt its activities, we will have no choice but to take a firm action on them,? he said.

A certain group of people in the province has openly opposed the replacement of several members of the company?s executive board including its president. They said that the change in the management was unfair. (*)