Residents ask Bukit Asam to pay higher compensation pay
Tuesday, February 13 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
Some 17 villagers from Sesa Karangraja of the Kampung IV, Muara Enim, South Sumatera have demanded state owned coal producer PT Bukit Asam to pay a higher payment for the land, which they alleged, was illegally occupied by the coal mine operator.
In a meeting with the vice regent of Muara Enim regency, Kalamuddin D on Monday, the residents said that the Rp 950 (1US4=Rp 9500) per meter in compensation offered by Bukit Asam was unrealistic. "The compensation payment means nothing to land owners," one of the residents told Sriwijaya Pos.
A spokesman for the coal mining company acknowledged that Bukit Asam has recently cleared about 66 hectares of land in the village as part of its expansion plan.
He said that owners of 38 hectares of the land had agreed the compensation payment but the others refused to do so.
The spokesman said that the company had arranged several meetings to renegotiate the compensation payment but failed to produce results as the residents demanded to increase the compensation payment to Rp 15,000 per meter.(*)