Indorayon strikers return to work

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Thousands of employees of PT Inti Indorayon Utama began to return to the plant in Porsea in North Tapanuli on Tuesday after a five-day sit-in at the governor's office here. They represented 6,000 employees who appealed against the pulp and rayon fiber plant being closed down. Their children had also attended in their uniforms, saying their school run by Indorayon would also be closed if the plant was shut.

The company has been forced to stop production due to security disturbances since July. Protesters in Porsea, accusing the company of polluting the nearby Lake Toba, had blocked the main public access roads to the mills, disrupting deliveries.

An employee, Ranjo Napitupulu, said his colleagues would return if the government failed to set a schedule to restart production following a meeting slated for Thursday between Governor Rizal Nurdin and a team of auditors.

At least "100 lawyers have agreed to act on behalf of the locals," according to R.Edison Lumban Batu, chairman of the local branch of the Ampera Party. (21)