Lonsum asked to talk with locals<\/p>\n
SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A senior military official has
\nurged the residents of Tanjung Isuy in Kutai regency, the
\nauthorities, and the plantation firm PT London Sumatra (Lonsum)
\nto meet together soon to solve a prolonged dispute of hundreds of
\nhectares of land in the area.<\/p>\n
Commander of the 091\/Aji Suryanata Kusuma resort military
\ncommand, Col. Rudy Landung, said here on Monday that such a
\ntripartite meeting would be substantial to stop the continuous
\nclashes between local people and the company.<\/p>\n
\"At the moment, all parties purported as if they're the most
\ntruthful. Thus, the problem has become difficult to solve without
\nefforts to meet and discuss the dispute,\" Landung said.<\/p>\n
The locals' demand of asking the company to pay hundreds of
\nbillions of rupiah for their land was improper, he said.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, PT Lonsum has no proper documents to use
\nthe land but already occupies and cuts trees in the area based
\nonly on a recommendation letter issued in 1996 by then governor
\nM. Ardans, Landung was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Late last year, locals burned a warehouse at the company's
\nNayan base camp and hundreds of others took over a number of
\nheavy tractors at the site, leaving PT Lonsum unable to operate
\nfor months.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the company -- under the help of the
\nsecurity authorities -- was able to take back their \"abducted\"
\nassets from the locals.<\/p>\n
During the raid, troops also seized dozens of handmade guns
\nand weapons from the residents, who showed no resistance.<\/p>\n
Locals retaliated a few days ago by burning at least two of
\nLonsum's heavy tractors in an expression of anger directed at the
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
No fatalities occurred as the operators of the giant vehicles
\nmanaged to escape from the mob.<\/p>\n
\"The case has nothing to do with politics. The burning of the
\ntwo heavy vehicles was just an effect of the locals' demand for
\nland compensation,\" Landung said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lonsum-asked-to-talk-with-locals-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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