Protesters end road blockade at Kitadin coal mine

A group of villagers living near the concession area of Thai mining company Banpu Kitadin in Tenggarong Seberang village, Kutai Kartanagara regency, East Kalimantan ended the blockade on Thursday after the company's management agreed to pay higher land compensation, Kaltim Post daily reported on Friday.

During a meeting mediated with the regency's senior officials, the company agreed to increase the compensation for the land acquired by the company from the villagers. The meeting was held after hundreds of Banpu Kitadin's workers staged a protest in front of the office of the local legislative council asking for the opening of the blockade.

The blockade began on Sept. 9, after a negotiation held by the villagers and the company failed to reach an agreement on the price of the land with the villagers, who had been relocated to other areas to make way for the expansion of the coal mining company. (*)