Protests at Caltex production area continues, six vehicles seized

Protests against PT Caltex Pasific Indonesia (CPI) in the Simpang Kopar village of the Tanah Putih district, Riau are continuing with villagers still seizing the company's six vehicles and taking over an oilrig and clean water processing facility in the area, Riau Pos reported on Thursday.

The company's communications and media relations manager Poedyo Otetomo said in a press statement that the villagers had burned one of the vehicles. But he added their action did not affect the operation of the water processing facility that is used not only to provide clean water to the residents but also to run the Duri Steamed Flood facility.

The protests in the Simpang Kopar village started last week when about 75 jobless residents seized the company's 37 vehicles and took over oilrigs after the oil giant rejected their applications to work in the company.

The protesters agreed to end their action early this week after the oil company's management offered them temporary jobs. But they later continued their protests after the management broke their promise.

Caltex management said that it could not go ahead with its promise because the agreement to offer the residents temporary jobs had been made under a threat.

Poedyo said that the villagers in the company's Mutiara oil production area in the Bangko district had ended and the situation had returned to normal.

The villagers which began their protests in the area last week had taken over the company's 13 vehicles and oil rigs.

Poedyo said that all the vehicles and the company's assets had been returned but some of them suffered damages.

The company said earlier that the local residents' actions had caused a drop in its crude oil production by between 15,000 to 30,000 barrels per day. In normal situation, the company produces about 700,000 barrels per day. (*)