Mob occupies Pertamina office

PEKANBARU, Riau: Hundreds of residents of the Riau town of Dumai continued to occupy a state oil company Pertamina office for a second straight day to demand that the firm name a local for the office's top post.

Antara reported that the people blocked the main access to the office building to prevent company employees from working on Tuesday morning. But the protesters allowed the oil refinery to operate.

Pertamina spokeswoman Sumarti said all administrative activities at the main building had been relocated to another building.

She said the protesters had gone to the wrong address, for it was the Pertamina head office in Jakarta that had the authority to heed the demand.

A discussion involving leaders of 14 native tribes, local administration officials and security authorities will be held to seek a resolution of the dispute. -- Antara