Villagers take control of another Caltex oil wells

The residents of the Pematang village in Mandau district took the control of Caltex Pacific Indonesia?s oil wells near their residential area after the company?s contractor refused to employ the local in the oil exploration and production activities, Pekanbaru-based daily Riau Post reported on Friday.

The newspaper said that the oilrigs were seized by about 15 residents early on Wednesday after the villagers failed to meet the executives of the company to express their demand. Workers of the oilrigs tried to negotiate with the protesting residents but to no avail. The residents forced the workers to stop the operation until their demand is made.

The seizure took place only two days after villagers in Jurong, Rokan Hulu blocked the access road to Caltex?s wells in the area. The road blockade was made after the company failed to meet its promise to asphalt the road.

About the seizure of the oilrigs in the Mandau district, Caltex?s spokesman Bekasap Sarkawi Yahya said that the villagers had left the rigs after the company promised to hold a meeting to discuss their demand.

?For the time being, the oil rigs have been operated. The villagers? demand has not been met until a further talk,? he said. (*)