Workers end blockade at VICO gas operation

Striking workers have agreed to end their blockade at natural gas operator PT VICO Indonesia's operation in Muara Badak district in Kutai regency, East Kalimantan, following an agreement between the protesters and the forum for the solidarity of East Kalimantan Communities (FKMKT), Neraca daily reported on Monday.

The daily said that the agreement was achieved on Sunday in a meeting attended by the East Kalimantan police chief Bahrumsyah and the province's military commander Djoko Basiriman.

"The local community wants a peaceful situation and a certainty in security condition. The recent workers' protests have made them feeling unsecured," the head of the local community Abdul Wahab told reporters following the meeting.

He feared that the local community had been fed up with the protests, which has taken place for several weeks. "If it continues, it could incite protests from the locals, which could lead to more conflicts," he said.

At least 250 workers of one of VICO's contractors had been on strike for several weeks demanding an improvement of their welfare and working condition. The protests got worse last week when the striking workers blocked the main gate of VICO, which supply natural gas to Badak LNG plant.

The workers had tried to gain full control of the gas supply and threatened to cut the supply to the LNG plant if their demands were not met.

Sidick Nitikusumah, the spokesman for the joint operation body at the state oil and gas company Pertamina confirmed the agreement.

But he said that the protesting workers still occupied the gas company's main gate despite the agreement. "The agreement is a good step to the total end of the blockade," he said. (*)