Students attack Caltex housing complex in Riau<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Security forces fired warning shots to disperse
\n1,500 students who attacked on Tuesday a housing complex
\nbelonging to PT Caltex Indonesia oil company in Rumbai, 10
\nkilometers north of the Riau capital, Pekanbaru.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for Caltex Indonesia Renville Almatsier, said the
\nstudents, from Riau University and the Institute for Islamic
\nStudies, also set 29 cars on fire, vandalized a bar in the
\ncomplex and stoned office windows.<\/p>\n
Renville said the students demanded a 10 percent share of oil
\nexploitation revenue from the company, the Indonesian
\nrepresentative of the United States-based Caltex oil company.<\/p>\n
\"They told us to stop operating until we accept their demand,
\nbut we rejected such a condition. State oil company Pertamina
\nwon't agree to their terms either,\" Renville told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
\"A presidential decree is needed to grant the students'
\ndemand.\"<\/p>\n
A witness told AFP the students congregated at 11.30 a.m.
\nWestern Time Zone. He said it was a planned event and there had
\nbeen news the students would protest.<\/p>\n
Community leader and a lecturer of Riau University Tabrani
\nRab, told the Post at least 11 students were injured when
\nsecurity troops quelled the demonstration.<\/p>\n
\"I regret the act of anarchism, but the students are not the
\nonly party to blame. It (the violence) should have not occurred
\nif the government heeds Riau people's demand for a fair share of
\noil revenue,\" said Tabrani, who declared a sovereign Riau
\nmovement last month.<\/p>\n
He warned the government of further violence in the province
\nif it turned a deaf ear to the students.<\/p>\n
\"It has become a popular (movement), not just a student demand
\nthat the government returns 10 percent of oil earnings to Riau.\"<\/p>\n
The students said they would return to the Caltex office on
\nTuesday if the company failed to approve their demand.<\/p>\n
Caltex produces almost half of Indonesia's 1.5 million barrels
\nof crude oil a day.<\/p>\n
The company contract reportedly provides for much of the 80
\npercent share of the oil it gives to the government to go to
\nRiau.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives is currently deliberating a bill
\non fiscal balance between provincial and central governments. One
\nsection of the bill regulates a new formula for revenue sharing.
\nThe natural resource-rich provinces of Riau, Aceh and Irian Jaya
\nhave repeatedly demanded the government decide on a fairer
\nrevenue sharing deal. (jsk\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-attack-caltex-housing-complex-in-riau-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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