Villagers blockade ABK?s coal hauling road
Wednesday, March 15 2006 - 10:10 PM WIB
Tens of Loa Janan sub-district in East Kalimantan regency of Kutai Kartanegara blockaded hauling road of coal miner PT. Anugerah Bara Kaltim (ABK), forcing the company to stop coal haulage from mine to stockpile, Kompas daily reported Thursday.
The blockade began Wednesday morning when villagers who accused the company of polluting their farms blockaded one segment of the hauling road. The villagers demanded that the company paid them compensation for the damages it caused.
A company official said it was trying to persuade villagers to stop blockading the hauling road by taking them to negotiation table.
Despite the blockade, Kompas reported that coal loading process from stockpile to barges in Mahakam river remained undisturbed.
ABK produced 3.4 million tones of coal in 2004.(*)