Caltex refuses to damn U.S., allies

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.