Chaidir Anwar Tanjung/GB, Pekanbaru – Villagers from the Sungai Rangau area, Tanah Putih subdistrict, Bengkalis, Riau province, Sumatra, have virtually taken over the local oilfields mined by international mining giant Caltex. After seizing 37 vehicles, the villagers moved on to occupy five oilfields, halting operations completely.

Speaking with Detik Monday, chief of the Riau Police, Maman Supratman, said the villagers and company have yet to settle their differences and confirmed that the confrontation had moved up a gear with the occupation.

Nevertheless, he said the Bengkalis police had assured him that the two sides would be meeting in the very near future. "I have already ordered the Bengkalis police to bring representatives of the two sides together today. I really hope the local people can restrain themselves," he said.

Meanwhile, according to Caltex's public relations officer Poedyo Oetomo, the company is losing Rp 2 billion per day per oilfield while production is at a standstill. "If this continues, losses to the state will mount up and the impact will influence the price of oil," he said.

He explained that the majority of oilfields in question were located near Sintong village, Bangko, Bengkalis, Riau. One oilfield was had also been taken over near the Sungai Rangau village "We were forced to halt operations because the workers weren't brave enough to go to the locations. They were afraid of clashing with the locals, we really regret the locals' actions," he said.

The tensions began after 70 locals demanded to be employed by the company or their contractors. Their demands were not acted upon at all and they then seized the 37 vehicles. Other locals have joined them in the protest action although there are no rough estimates on the numbers occupying the oilfields.