Three reasons why Ujungpangkah people reject Premier Oil

Head of the Commission B at the regency council of Gresik, East Java Masluh Fanani said there were three reasons why the Ujungpangkah villagers had thus far rejected the operation of British oil and gas firm Premier Oil in the area.

First, the villagers feared that Premier would cause pollution, which might threaten their economic life, Masluh said in a discussion with the Gresik regency administration.

Secondly, the villagers fear that Premier's operation would bring negative impacts on their religious and social life. They are worried that the company's operation would invite prostitutes into there and were displeased by the fact that Premier's workers held drinking party during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Third, the fact that Premier formed close ties with certain political parties had caused jealousy among supporters of other political parties in the area, Masluh said.

He did not however specify which political parties had close relations with Premier.

Masluh also said that during the recent visit by several councilors to the village, the villagers voiced concerns over the fact that the vice speaker of the council from the PPP political party had a close relation with Premier that he was also involved in distributing aids to the villagers.

"If Premier Oil has a goodwill, (it should not distribute the aids) through third party," Masluh quoted by a villager as saying.

During the discussion, vice regent Sambari Halim Radianto said the government was now seeking to lure investors to the country and Premier's plans to start oil exploration in the area should be welcome. (*)