Caltex production activities in Riau still hampered by villagers' protests
Saturday, October 14 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
Residents in Simpang Kopar of the Sungai Rangau district in Tanah Putih, Riau continue to block an access road to the production unit of the oil giant Caltex Pasific Indonesia (CPI) in the province, Riau Pos reported on Saturday.
The company's communications and media relations manager Pedyo Oetomo said that the residents still took control on the company's clean water plant in Rangau, an oil rig tower in Kopar and a number of production facilities including seven vehicles.
The protests started two weeks ago after applications from some 75 jobless youths from the villagers to work in the company were turned down. The protests ended for almost one day early this week after the management agreed to offer them jobs but the residents later resumed their action because the company's management broke its promise.
Poedyo said that besides taking control and seizing the company's facilities, the angry residents had also taken one of the company's employees as a hostage when was conducting a routine inspection in one of the company's production facilities. The employee was released after being taken a hostage for several hours.
He said that the company condemned the villagers' actions and warned them to end their protests as soon as possible.
"Negotiations are continuing with the help of the local police and administration," he said.
The villagers continued with their demand to work in the company or in its contractors but Poedyo said that the demand could not be accommodated because the capacity of the company to absorb the employment was limited.
The company said earlier that the people's protests have caused a cut in the oil giant's crude oil production by between 15,000 and 30,000 barrels per day, In normal condition, the company produces about 700,000 barrels per day. (*)