Traditional miners threaten to blockade PTBA?s coal railway

Traditional coal miners in Muara Enim regency, South Sumatra have threatened to blockade state owned coal mining company PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam?s coal transportation if the local government refused to allow them to carry out mining activities legally, local newspaper reported.

Usman Firiansyah, the coordinator of the traditional coal miners, said in Palembang on Monday that many traditional miners had been arrested by the police because the government considered them as illegal miners.

The traditional miners had, therefore, urged the local government to legalize their activities by giving them licenses, he said. If the government continued to refuse giving them licenses, they will blockade the coal railway which is used by PTBA to transport its coal to the Tarahan coal terminal in Lampung.

The traditional miners also threatened to ?occupy? the local regent?s office, if their demand was unheeded.

Meanwhile, Bambang Widodo, the head of the regency?s mining office, said that the local government could not issue the licenses for traditional mining activities because it would be against the mining law. (*)