Batam, Riau Islands – Employees of PT Tri Karya Abadi (TKA), a bauxite mining company in Dompak, Tanjung Pinang, staged a protest at the Tanjung Pinang District Court demanding the company resume operation.

The company had been ordered to stop operation because it was working on disputed land. Court spokesman Joko Saptono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday the mining workers urged the court to revoke its order.

"We have offered a mediation between the plaintiff and the accused to settle the case out of court. He added that a Malaysian property investor had filed a lawsuit against TKA for occupying 300 hectares of its land.

TKA management said it was not aware of the dispute because it had leased the land from 659 families in the area since 2008. The closure has caused 150 workers to lose their jobs.