Villagers protest Unocal
Saturday, April 8 2000 - 05:30 AM WIB
Some 100 people of Penajam subdistrict, Pasir regency, in East Kalimantan staged a demonstration on Friday at the entrance gate of oil and gas firm PT Unocal Indonesia Company, the Kaltim Post daily reported.
The protesters demanded the company to prioritize local people in the recruitment of workers, and to provide compensation for land destruction caused by its operation.
"We have been neglected. The people need jobs for food, children education and the future," said local youth leader Udin Khadafi.
Khadafi lambasted Unocal for recruiting people from outside the Penajam area even for petty jobs like cleaning up the pipeline.
Another youth also protested the Unocal recruitment system in which the company imposes an English language test even for minor jobs like cleaning up dishes and pipeline.
"If we have to go through the English test, no one from Penajam will pass," he said.
Unocal management promised to provide answers next week.
"If we don't get answer in a week, we'll act brutally," Khadafi threatened. (*)