Situation in Dumai returns to normal but protests continue

The tense situation in Dumai, some 200 kilometers form the provincial capital of Riau, Pekanbaru has gradually returned to normal although tens of residents still block the gate leading to the state owned oil and gas company Pertamina's housing complex, Detik.com reported on early Thursday.

The local police said late Wednesday that the situation in the oil town, which was hit by massive demonstration early this week following the shooting of four protesting residents by the security officials, has been fully under control.

"The situation is under control although some important oil facilities remain under a tight guard," the spokesman for the local police office, S. Pandiangan explained. He added that four of the four protesters who were treated in the Riau hospital for suffering shot injuries during the incident had been admitted to go home.

Pandangian acknowledged that tens of protesting residents still blocked the gate of the housing complex as Pertamina gave no response at all to their demand.

Hundreds of local residents occupied Pertamina's housing complex on Sunday to demand fair compensation for 1,305 hectares of land, allegedly unlawfully seized by the company. The clash, however, could not be avoided when the police tried to disperse them on Monday.

Meanwhile the local legislative council said it regret the incidence and asked the state oil and gas company and the protesting residents to settle their case amicably. The vice chairman of the council Soeratno AD said that Pertamina should pay the compensation to the ex owners of the property now used by the company for the housing complex.

He said that the land dispute began in 1973 when Pertamina acquired land from local residents for the construction of its housing complex. But not all of rightful residents received the compensation payment for their properties from the company. (*)