Aceh fishermen demand compensation from Pertamina

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - Fishermen in Bireuen and Pidie Districts, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) Province, will demand billions of rupiah in compensation from state oil and gas company Pertamina for their losses caused by the company`s oil prospecting operations.

Secretary of the Aceh `Panglima Laot` (traditional fisherman institution) M Adli Abdullah said here on Friday that the Bireuen and Pidie fishermen have appointed Zaini Djalil as their lawyer in dealing with Pertamina.

Over the past two months, Pertamina has been carrying out oil exploration prospecting operations off the Aceh eastern coast. Consequently scores of fish traps of the local fishermen were damaged beyond repair by the state oil company`s boats used in the oil prospecting operations.

"We regret that the Pertamina managers in Lhokseumawe failed to establish coordination with us in Pidie and Bireuen," Abdullah said.

"One such fish trap is worth Rp150 million. So, if 30 traps had been destroyed, the fishermen has suffered a loss of several billions of rupiah," he said.

Last year, Pertamina`s boats destroyed a number of fish traps in Lhokseumawe and North Aceh.

Following protests from the local fishermen, Pertamina in Lhokseumawe eventually paid compensation money to the fishermen whose fish traps had been destroyed.

Regarding the current case, Abdullah said that the had contacted Pertamina in Lhokseumawe, but there was no response.

"As there is no response, the fishermen with the assistance of the `Panglima Laot` have started suing the oil company," he said.