Sakai and Bonai residents declare "war" against Caltex

The Sakai, Bonai and Malay Rokan, the original inhibitants of Riau province, have declared "war" against PT Caltex Pasific Indonesia after the oil giant opposed the residents' demand against the company to pay the compensation for their land, Riau Pos reported on Monday

The residents said that they would continue their protests and blocked all the roads to prevent Caltex vehicles from entering the company's production areas in the Rengau Sementara district of Bengkalis regency.

The residents are demanding for the compensation for the land used by the company and for the environmental damages resulting from the leakage of the company's gas pipelines passing their village.

Saparuddin, one of the protesting residents, deplored the company's lack of attention to their protests and demand. "The company's statement that the oil leakage did not exist is hurting us because it is on the contrary with the fact."

He said that the company's crude pipeline passing the village has leaked for years, destroying the villager's plantations but the company has never tried to mend it.

Caltex management, however, rejected the accusation, especially related to the leakage of the crude oil pipeline. (*)