Villagers demand compensation from Lanna Harita

The people of Sungai Tempurung village in Anggana area, Kutai Kertanegara regency, East Kalimantan, demanded coal mining firm PT Lanna Harita Indonesia (LHI) to provide compensation because coal transportation passing through their village have caused pollution in the area.

The local Kaltim Post daily reported Thursday that the villagers want LHI to acquire part of the villagers land located on the side of the road often passed by the company?s coal trucks.

?If (the company) declines to fulfill (the demand), the villagers will blockade the road,? said head of the Sungai Tempurung village Djumaidi, following a meeting between LHI and the villagers at the local office of the Bapedalda environmental watchdog.

The paper said that LHI and the villagers could not yet agreed on the price of the plot of land to be acquired by the company.

LHI is 55 percent controlled by Thailand?s Lanna Ignite.

The villagers have complained that LHI?s coal transportation activities have caused air and water pollution in the area. They also demanded the company to provide clean water for the villagers.

LHI is now seeking the help of the local Kutai Kertanegara to facilitate negotiation with the protesting villagers.(*)