PT KSM accused of intimidating villagers

Coal mining company PT Kalimantan Surya Makmur (KSM) has been accused of intimidating villagers to get approval for the company's coal stockpile located in the Tatakan village, South Tapin sub district, Tapin regency, in South Kalimantan.

The local Kapos daily quoted one of the villagers as that KSM officials had come to the villagers with a threat and forced them to sign to approve the coal stockpile location.

The paper said that the villagers had sent a letter to the Tapin House of Representatives to annul their earlier approval.

The villagers said that the coal stockpile had caused pollution and damaged the local rubber and orange plantations.

The paper also quoted a local administration official as saying that KSM had yet to obtain the necessary licenses for the stockpile operation. (*)