Residents protest garbage dump

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Hundreds of residents of West Telukbetung blocked off access to the local dump over the weekend to protest what they said was pollution caused by the dump.

The residents demanded the city administration relocate the dump away from their neighborhood after a meeting with Mayor Achmad Yulizar on Friday ended without resolving the issue.

Residents said they would maintain the roadblocks until an amicable solution was found. Another meeting between residents and officials is scheduled for Dec. 28.

The presence of the dump has angered residents, who say it causes air and water pollution.

Residents staged a week-long protest against the dump in August. That protest ended after the city administration promised to provide free medical care for residents suffering from a variety of illnesses allegedly caused by the presence of the dump. -- JP