Unocal steps up security measures

Oil and gas firm PT Unocal Indonesia Company has intensified security measures at its office in Pasir Ridge area in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, after the U.S. bombarded Afghanistan, the local Kaltim Post daily reported Wednesday.

The paper said that the company made extra precautionary measures after some 100 militant students held a demonstration on Thursday demanding Unocal to persuade the U.S. government to cancel plans to attack Afghanistan. The student protesters said that they would not be responsible for the safety of the company?s foreign staffs if the U.S. made the attack.

Unocal has some 65 U.S.-citizen staffs.

Kaltim Post said that policemen were seen guarding Unocal office compound.

The company internal security had also issued a memo to warn foreign staffs to be on alert and to always bring cellular phone when living office or home.

Company spokesman Samsulistyo said that despite the alert situation, the company?s oil and gas operation remained in normal activity.(*)