Road blockade at PPC mining site

A group of villagers blockaded the entrance road toward the coal mining site of PT Pacific Prima Coal (PPC) as they demanded compensation for what the villagers claimed as tribal land acquired by the company, JPNN.Com reported on Friday.

The road blockade launched on Wednesday and Thursday by the villagers in Teluk Bayur, District, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, has hampered the transportation of coal. The Berau police has dispatched dozens officers to monitor the scene.

The villagers have been demanding the company to realize its promise to provide Rp 1 billion of financial compensation for the tribal land used by the company to mine coal. But after almost three months, there has been no response from the company, prompting the villagers to launch the road blockade.

Teluk Bayur police chief, Sumarlik said on Thursday that the police has been trying to act as a mediator in the conflict, but PT PPC has yet to be able to make a decision as its leader is still overseas.

?There will be another meeting in two weeks time,? Sumarlik said. The villagers finally ended the road blockade. (*)