Caltex refuses to damn U.S., allies
Gema Setara, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru
American oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) rejected condemning the military strikes launched by the United States and its allies on Afghanistan, saying that it could not make a political decision because it was a business institution.
Poedyo Oetomo, Caltex's communications and media affairs manager, was responding to an ultimatum set by Riau students who demanded the oil company condemn the U.S.-led military strikes in Afghanistan within 48 hours on Thursday.
"Caltex is purely a business institution, so it is inappropriate for us to make a political statement as demanded by the student demonstrators," Antara quoted Poedyo as saying here on Friday.
More than 500 students from several universities and academies in the city held a demonstration near the Caltex office in Rumbai, demanding the oil company condemn the U.S.-led military action in Afghanistan and to stop supplying fuel to that country and Britain.
The demonstrators, who are staying in a camp near the Caltex office, threatened to occupy the office and expel American citizens working in the company if their demands were not met.
Freddy Mahendra, the coordinator of the demonstrators, regretted Caltex's rejection, saying the company had no sense of humanity.
"With the company's rejection, students will not be held accountable for the safety of American citizens and Britons in the province," he said.
Freddy said they would go back to their campus to regroup and discuss what actions they would take in line with Caltex's rejection.
Following the absence of Caltex's response to their demand, the students dispersed peacefully.
Activities in the mining area and the office went on as usual throughout Friday while security in the area was stepped up.
Two platoons of police personnel, a number of troops and Caltex security guards have been stationed inside and around the mining area in anticipation of possible problems.
Both local and foreign guests are required to undergo tight security checks by police personnel before and after entering the area.