Police seek to end tension between locals, pulp plant

Police seek to end tension between locals, pulp plant

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Ansyaad Mbai met with
leaders of the Batak-Toba Forum (Parbato) on Wednesday to diffuse
tension that built after the central government decided to allow
pulp and paper company PT Inti Indorayon Utama to resume
operations.

Head of North Sumatra Police Public Affairs Office Sr. Com.
P.H.H. Manurung said that the meeting was aimed at finding out
people's possible reaction to the presence of PT Inti Indorayon
Utama, which is expected to resume operations under a new name,
PT Toba Pulp Lestari.

"The North Sumatra Police chief wants input from residents of
Porsea so that the police can properly handle security issues in
the regency," Manurung said.

The meeting took place after news that up to 30,000 people
from Porsea and its vicinity would gather at the Porsea public
market on Sunday to reject the central government's decision to
reopen the pulp and paper company.

Parbato leaders attending the meeting included its chairman
Ompu Monang Napitupulu, Alexander Manurung, Farel H.Napitupulu,
Frietz Tambunan, Jongkers Tampubolon, Sabam Malau, Bilter Sirait
and J.M. Sitanggang.

Ompu Monang said they were asked about the possible reactions
from people to the government decision to allow PT Toba Pulp
Lestari to reopen.

PT Toba Pulp Lestari was forced to halt its operations in 2000
by former president Abdurrahman Wahid due to environmental
damages.

The company was held responsible for the decreasing level of
water in Lake Toba and the looting of forests in the province. In
addition to being found guilty of dumping toxic waste water
directly in the Asahan river, the company also polluted the air,
which gave rise to lung diseases in people living in the
vicinity.

Dozens of people were killed in a series of demonstrations
organized to protest the plant's presence in the small town
located on the banks of the Asahan river, which flows from Lake
Toba.

The decision to allow PT Toba Pulp Lestari to resume
operations was made at a recent Cabinet meeting presided over by
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Ompu Monang said the people of Porsea would never allow the
pulp and paper company to resume operations in the regency.

"We've urged the police chief to carefully and seriously study
why the people of Porsea oppose the company. That will help them
carry out their duties, not repression," Ompu Monang said.

PT Toba Pulp Lestari president commissioner Dedi Sutanto said
on Wednesday that his company would put more priority on
community development programs for people around its plant.

Meanwhile, some 200 students staged a protest in front of the
governor's office in Medan on Wednesday, demanding that the
government revoke the company's license in Porsea.