Villagers stage rally against Unocal
Tuesday, May 9 2000 - 04:30 AM WIB
Tens of villagers of Marangkayu, Tanjung Santan district, Kutai regency, East Kalimantan staged a demonstration at the East Kalimantan provincial council in the provincial capital of Samarinda, demanding suspension of the operation of PT Unocal in Tanjung Santan.
The villagers, 36 strong, said the company should temporarily stop its operation until all the complaints of the local people were addressed, Suara Kaltim reported.
The villagers, who were grouped in the Foundation of Community Caring for Environment (LMPLH), were accompanied by the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam).
The villagers in a statement read at the council demanded Unocal deliver on its promises to asphalt roads, build health center and clean water facilities and meeting hall in their village.
The villagers admitted that the company had fulfilled its promise to provide scholarship and training for the local people, but they said the programs only benefited people who were close the company's workers.
The villagers also complained that the company continued polluting their village.
Other issues they raised during the demonstration was the land appropriation by the company in Semangkok in 1970 and in Kampung Baru in 1982 which they said had deprived the local people of their livelihood. They also charged that the company's waste management system had not yet approved by the government.
"Because of this, we demand Unocal to solve all these problems and immediately deliver on its promise," the villagers said.
They called on the provincial administration to temporarily close the company's operation.
"If it (the provincial administration) is not willing to temporarily close the company's operation, we demand the company's operation be totally closed, " one of the villagers said. (*)