Adat leader: Blocking of Kolaka PSN road paralyses local economy
Kolaka (ANTARA) - A Mekongga customary leader has said that the blocking of a hauling road in the National Strategic Project (PSN) area of PT Indonesia Pomalaa Industry Park (IPIP) in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, is paralysing the local economy and threatening the investment climate in the region.
Coordinator of the Mekongga Indigenous Community Djabir Teto Lahukuwi, when met in Kendari on Friday, said that the obstruction or blocking of the road by PT TRK was deemed detrimental to various parties and disrupted the investment climate as well as the livelihoods of local residents who depend on the industrial operations for their income.
“Such blockades must not be carried out, because ongoing activities will automatically be obstructed. This includes the workforce, particularly local people who are already employed, such as truck drivers who are losing retase income because operations have come to a halt,” said Djabir.
According to Djabir, if PT TRK claims to have rights over the land used as the hauling road access, the appropriate step should be through legal channels, not by unilaterally closing operational access.
“If they genuinely believe they have rights over the land there, they should pursue it through legal channels via a civil lawsuit in court or an official report,” he asserted.
He also urged law enforcement officers to act firmly in addressing the blocking of the hauling road in the PSN area so that it does not recur.
“Security forces must act firmly; there must be no tolerance for such incidents,” said Djabir.
Meanwhile, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Kolaka Police AKP Fernando Oktobe appealed to all parties in the dispute to exercise restraint and respect the legal process currently being handled by the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police.
“This matter is ongoing at the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police, with PT TRK as both the reporting party and the reported party. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and entrust the handling of the case to the police,” said Fernando.
He explained that the police are focused on maintaining public security and order to prevent the emergence of new criminal acts at the PSN hauling road site.
“We call on each party not to take provocative actions that could trigger new criminal offences. Regarding the validity of land status, let law enforcement officers decide, whether through criminal or civil proceedings,” Fernando explained.