U.S. firms hail govt efforts to protect local operations

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

U.S.-based oil companies Devon Energy and PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) praised the Indonesian government's effort to safeguard their presence in the country amid the growing anti- American sentiment since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

"We're satisfied with the security guarantee given by the government," Devon spokesman Erwin Lebe told the Jakarta Post over the weekend.

He added that the Devon office would remain open in Jakarta.

Last week, several U.S. and British firms temporarily closed their offices in Jakarta amid threats from a few noisy minority groups to attack and cleanse certain ethnic groups, especially those from the U.S. and Britain. They also threatened to attack U.S. interests in the country.

Meanwhile, CPI spokesman Renville Almatsier said that the company was relieved with the security provided for the company, especially at its oil fields in Riau province.

He also hailed the Police's strong message to arrest Anti- American protesters who break the law, citing the Police's measure to arrest anyone who burns the U.S. flag during the protest.

"But we have yet to consider revoking our warning to our employees in Riau to limit travel out of the operation area unless it is necessary," Renville told the Post.

CPI, a joint venture between American firms Chevron and Texaco, account for more than half of the country's 1.3 million -barrels per day of oil output.

It has about 120 international employees out of a total of 5,200.

Other major U.S. and British companies such as ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc., British American Tobacco (BAT) Indonesia and PT Freeport Indonesia also consider the current situation to be relatively normal.

But BAT spokeswoman Wida Septarina noted that her company would continue watching the security situation on an hour by hour basis.

A Pertamina spokesman from the directorate of production- sharing and management, Sidick Nitikusuma also confirmed that all U.S. and British oil and gas companies would continue all operations in a normal manner.

"They have assessed the situation and made some adjustments in security," Sidick said."Thank God there has been no physical abuse."

He added that Pertamina has allowed all companies to prepare a contingency plan to close their offices should the security conditions worsen.