Entry of Steam Power Plant in Cilacap Blocked

Friday, 13 February, 2009 | 15:10 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Cilacap: Greenpeace activists suddenly blocked the entry of a steam power plant in Cilacap yesterday's morning at 7am. Ten activists wearing orange outfits tied their bodies to the gate with a locked chain. They waved banners saying 'Deadly Coal' and 'Coalition Against Coal'. 

Workers and the project's vehicles entered the plant site from the side gate. Head of the Vital Object Unit at Banyumas sub-regional police, Commissioner Elvis Tellu, invited the activists inside for a dialog. The activists rejected this idea. The police then let the action continue. 

Arif Fiyanto, spokesperson of the Greenpeace Southeast Asia, urged government to stop exporting coal and using coal as energy sources. They distributed a medical report to 562 residents who live two kilometers away from the site. The report said 60 percent of the residents suffered acute respiratory infection. The site's technical manager promised to forward the report to the board of directors. 

ARIS ANDRIANTO | AHMAD RAFIQ