Residents block access road to Kalimantan coal mine

Local villagers have blocked the access road to the mining area of PT Teguh Sinar Abadi in Jerakng Dayaq village in the district of Muara Pahu, West Kutai regency, East Kalimantan, accusing the firm of conducting mining activities on their customary lands.

Kompas reported Saturday that at least 50 villagers were involved in the road blockade which started five days ago. The company was accused of conducting activities on a 150-hectare area claimed by the villagers as their customary land.

Ali Geru Kerti Yudha, the chief the Jerakng Dayaq said that the villagers were not aware that the company?s concession area also covered the 150-hectare area which they claimed as their customary land.

?The local villagers are the rightful owner of the lands which has been inherited from generation to generation since 19th century ,? he said. He added that the local residents had demanded a compensation of Rp 75 million per hectare, if the company wanted to carry out mining activities in the location. ?The company did not agree and will only pay Rp 1 million per hectare,? he added.

The local police chief, I Wayan Sunartha, said that he had asked the company and local villagers to settle the dispute amicably but to no avail. ?The company claimed that it had paid the compensation but the local residents denied the claim,? he added.

PT Teguh Sinar Abadi is part of the Bayan Group, one of the country?s 10 biggest coal producers. The company begins its mining operation in the area in 2008. With a concession area of 5,495 hectares, the company expects coal production of 1 million tons this year. (*)