Students call a boycott against giant East Kalimantan mining and oil firms
Monday, May 15 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
Students called on the people of East Kalimantan to boycott the giant mining and oil firms operating in the province to force the companies to be more "fair" to the people, the Kaltim Post reported on Monday.
"We are tired of being treated unfairly. It's useless for us if we only shout. We have to take a stronger action," said Hamniansyah who came up with the idea during a gathering of students late on Friday.
He said that the boycott could be in the form of occupation of the companies' headquarters or the blockade of road like the one occurring at giant gold mining firm PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM).
He said that among the target companies included coal mining firm PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) and state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina.
Hamniansyah said that the companies had long exploited the resources from East Kalimantan, without the province getting much benefit from their operation.
He said that this had to be changed immediately.(*)