Villagers hold peaceful protest at Vico
Friday, June 9 2000 - 04:15 AM WIB
At least 100 villagers of the Muara Badak area in East Kalimantan held a peaceful demonstration on Thursday at oil and gas firm Vico Muara Badak compound.
The local Kaltim Post daily said that the villagers were accompanied by the East Kalimantan Care Forum (FPK), a non-governmental organization.
The protesting villagers demanded Vico to immediately resolve the problems related to the company's operation. The villagers said that there were at least 28 cases including land erosion, flood, pollution and land compensation.
The villagers reminded Vico that the company had been exploiting the local natural resources.
The protesting villagers demanded to meet Vico management, but the company only wanted to meet 10 representatives. The villagers initially rejected the offer, but finally accepted it.
The negotiation with the 10 representatives failed to come out with any solution. They only agreed to meet again, with a fixed time table to be decided later.
Vico external officer Surya Safari said that the villagers must have a "clear and detail agenda" to solve the problems.
Meanwhile, head of the People Communications Forum (FKM), another NGO, Yusuf Culi lambasted the FPK for organizing the demonstration. He warned FPK not to act like a hero. He also attacked FPK for not asking his organization to hold the demonstration.
The debate almost broke into a fight if the head of the local police didn't stop it. (*)