Thousands stage protest outside Indorayon<\/p>\n
PORSEA, North Sumatra (JP): Ten thousand locals, religious
\nleaders and student activists demonstrated on Saturday demanding
\nthe closure of PT Inti Indorayon Utama pulp and rayon mill.<\/p>\n
Under the watchful eyes of thousands of security personnel,
\nthe protesters formed a long parade as they peacefully marched
\nthe 10 kilometers to the outskirts of Porsea, where the listed
\ncompany's plant is located.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators came from neighboring towns such as Balige,
\nParapat, Palipi, Pangururan, Siborong-borong and regency capital
\nTarutung. They claim the plant is environmentally hazardous and
\nshould therefore be closed.<\/p>\n
All roads leading to the plant were filled with a sea of men
\nand women holding national flags and banners reading \"Reject
\naudit\", \"Close down Indorayon\" and \"Indorayon poisons Samosir
\nislanders\", among other claims.<\/p>\n
Locals have staged a series of demonstrations over the last
\nfew months to protest the reopening of the pulp factory last
\nOctober.<\/p>\n
The government allowed the mill to resume operations following
\na temporary halt in order to let an official team audit the
\ncompany. The team's findings would help the government determine
\nwhether the plant should be closed down permanently.<\/p>\n
However, the independent team, led by state-owned PT
\nSucofindo, has yet to audit the company.<\/p>\n
Locals have opposed the audit, saying it was common knowledge
\nthat the mill had caused environmental deterioration in its 10
\nyears of operation and therefore an audit was unnecessary.<\/p>\n
Sixty-two percent of the company's shares are owned by
\nSingaporean company Asia-Pacific International Resources Ltd.
\nwhich is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, while 38 percent
\nis owned by the public, cooperatives and Raja Garuda Mas Group.<\/p>\n
Audit<\/p>\n
Locals say that in addition to causing a bad odor over a 10-
\nkilometer radius, the company also felled trees in North
\nTapanuli, causing rivers to dry up and the water level of Lake
\nToba to drastically fall.<\/p>\n
Rev. Miduk Sirait, chief of the Toba Batak Protestant Church
\nin Porsea, said local religious leaders joined the demonstration
\nout of concern for the suffering the pulp mill caused locals.<\/p>\n
\"The people here have suffered much and the plant's presence
\nhas damaged the Batak people's culture, plus the environment has
\nbadly deteriorated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Maralo Hasibuan, a preacher of the Indonesian Christian Church
\nshared Miduk's view, saying the company had no other alternative
\nbut to close down the factory.<\/p>\n
Almost all shops and kiosks in the small town were closed in
\nfear of fresh clashes between demonstrators and security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators dispersed gradually after being denied
\naccess to the plant by security personnel. The demonstration
\nlasted six hours. (21\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-stage-protest-outside-indorayon-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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