Regent asks locals to avoid violence against KEM

West Kutai regent Rama Asia has called on area people not to take violent action against gold miner PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) which will end its mining operation in East Kalimantan in 2004, East Kalimantan-based Kaltim Post daily reported on Monday.

Rama said over the weekend KEM had done enough for the welfare of the local people for instance by building nearly 8-kilometer asphalted road and drainage systems in villages near its operation area in West Kutai, East Kalimantan Province. The firm had also provided boarding houses for area students, the regent said.

KEM had spent no less than RP14 billion (US$=Rp9064) on the projects, Kaltim Post quoted Rama as saying.

A couple of years ago villagers blockaded roads leading to KEM?s project sites.

Recently, a local non-government organization accused the company of dumping toxic waste into River Mahakam.

KEM is owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto. Currently, the firm produces 13-14 tons of gold annually.

Its plan of ending its operation in East Kalimantan is due to gold reserve depletion. (*)