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.