Special team established to end Kideco-residents conflicts

A special team has been established to end the growing conflicts between local residents and PT Kideco Jaya Agung, a coal mining firm based in Pasir regency, East Kalimantan, local newspaper Kaltim Post reported on Tuesday.

The agreement to establish the special team was made during a meeting between the Pasir regency’s top officials including the regent Ridwan Suwidi, and representatives of villagers and PT Kideco.

The regent, Ridwan, assured the local residents and the mining company after the meeting that the special team would work within a week to find the best solution to end the conflicts. He also asked the local residents to refrain from making any activities that could further blow the people’s resentment against the company.

The local residents from three villages located near Kideco’s mining area have protested against the company’s mining operation after the company refused to reduce the activities of its coal ships at the nearby sea.

The locals who mostly work as fishermen said that the around-the-clock shipping traffic had seriously disturbed their fishing activities. They have asked the company to operate their cargo ships only during the day so that they can carry out their fishing activities during the night.

According to the villagers, the ships pass their fishing areas almost 24 hours a day, disturbing their fishing activities both during the day and night. (*)