Students protest plantation firm

PEKANBARU, Riau: More than 1,000 freshmen of the Riau University took to the streets here Thursday to protest the operation of the oil palm plantation company, PT Torganda, in the province.

The students, riding on motorbikes, came to the provincial legislative assembly building and unfurled a banner reading "Expel PT Torganda from Riau."

PT Torganda has recently come under fire from the public after its employees were involved in a dispute with residents. The dispute has led to the provincial administration's intervention, with the governor freezing the company's operational permit.

In retaliation, the company sued the governor at the State Administrative Court which issued a verdict in favor of the provincial administration.