Villagers stage demonstration against PT Inco

Scores of members of the Solidarity Forum for the PT Inco (PT International Nickel Indonesia) Mining Society staged a demonstration in front of the Japanese Consulate-General in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday, the Kompas newspaper reported in its Tuesday edition.

The protesters demanded Japan to withdraw its investment from Inco immediately.

Japan’s Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund has provided $11.25 million for Inco’s project in Soroako village. Jexim/JBIC also funded the Inco’s expansion projects worth of $140 million.

The protesters alleged that PT Inco has been violating several regulations since its operation in South Sulawesi. They also said that Inco’s projects had affected the local environment and seized local people's land without proper compensation.

The protesters demanded the government to solve their dispute with PT Inco over land compensation and the retrenchment of Inco’s employees.

The Kompas report,however, did not provide comments from PT Inco.(*)