Exxon\/Mobil sticks by RI despite violence<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Exxon\/Mobil Corp will not pull out of
\nIndonesia or scale back investments due to violence in Aceh
\nprovince where eight of its workers were briefly held hostage at
\nthe weekend, a senior official said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"We have a very strong commitment to Indonesia and a very good
\nrelationship with Indonesia, and we will continue to look for
\nopportunities to invest in Indonesia," Lance Johnson, vice
\npresident of ExxonMobil Production Co, Southeast Asia\/Australia,
\ntold Reuters.<\/p>\n
The employees of Exxon\/Mobil were released unharmed on
\nSaturday after being held for six to seven hours by armed gunmen
\nwho had demanded a ransom of Rp 4 billion (US$460 million).<\/p>\n
Baihaki Hakim, the head of Indonesia's state oil company,
\nPertamina, said on Monday seven employees had been released but
\nno ransom was paid.<\/p>\n
In recent months Exxon\/Mobil has faced rising violence in the
\nrestive province of Aceh and has evacuated most of its workers'
\ndependents, leaving only critical staff at the site, industry
\nsources said.<\/p>\n
In March, separatist rebels shot and damaged an aircraft
\nchartered by the company, wounding two passengers.<\/p>\n
"We are optimistic that the current situation would be
\npeacefully resolved," Johnson said, speaking on the sidelines of
\nthe Asia Oil & Gas Conference in Malaysia's capital.<\/p>\n
Johnson, who said "kidnap" was too strong a word for the
\ndetention of the workers, said the incident took place in a
\nremote area of the company's operations.<\/p>\n
"We are very concerned over the safety and security of our
\npeople and we are very pleased with the strong support we are
\ngetting from Pertamina," he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pertamina chief Baihaki said
\nsecurity had been stepped up around the Aceh liquefied natural
\ngas (LNG) plant and gas fields. But he admitted it was difficult
\nto ensure security, especially in remote areas.<\/p>\n
"The most vulnerable (to bomb attacks) are gas wells. Some are
\nin remote areas. No way we can protect this seven days a week, 24
\nhours a day," he said.<\/p>\n
Baihaki said Pertamina had received numerous bomb threats and
\nwas trying to improve its community relations in the area so
\nlocals could help look after the facilities.<\/p>\n
Asked if there was need for greater police and military
\nprotection, Johnson said: "That's an issue for Pertamina and the
\nmilitary and the government of Indonesia to help work out for
\nus."
\ny<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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