Hundreds of people rallied on Indonesia's Java island on Monday to protest against an unending flow of mud from an exploratory oil well with some pelting stones at police.
JAKARTA — Hundreds of people rallied on Indonesia's Java island on Monday to protest against an unending flow of mud from an exploratory oil well with some pelting stones at police.
The protest occurred near the main government office in East Java province's Sidoarjo regency where the foul-smelling mud has been flowing for over three months.
Authorities and well operator PT Lapindo Brantas have been struggling since late May to plug the leak that has displaced more than 10,000 people from their homes but to no avail.
"This mud disaster is a fate from God so people should be patient. They should not let outsiders provoke them. I have told the people that they should trust and follow the government," said Sidoarjo deputy regent Syaiful Illah.
Some of the demonstrators who threw stones said the government was protecting the firm and the protest eased only after government officials agreed to talk, local media said.
"We met the rally leaders and went down to the crowd to reason with them. We told them we would try to strengthen the dykes and they dispersed peacefully," Illah told Reuters.
Tempers have been rising over the disaster in recent weeks, with thousands rallying last month to demand higher compensation after the torrent of mud engulfed their homes and many shrimp ponds dotting coastal Sidoarjo, known for its shrimp crackers.
The noxious mud gives off fumes that have made people ill and caused respiratory problems.
An oil industry watchdog official has said the mudflow could have been triggered by a crack at about 6,000 feet (1,800 metres) in the Banjar Panji-1 exploration well, operated by Indonesia's Lapindo Brantas.
Police have declared nine Lapindo employees suspects in an environmental pollution investigation.
Lapindo is a unit of PT Energi Mega Persada, partly owned by the Bakrie Group, which is controlled by the family of Indonesia's chief social welfare minister, Aburizal Bakrie.
Australia's Santos Ltd., which has said it is insured against the problem, has an 18 percent interest, while Indonesia's largest listed energy firm, PT Medco Energi International Tbk , holds the remaining 32 percent.
Source: Reuters
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