Paldas Village, KOTABARI.COM – Tensions in Paldas Village, Rantau Bayur Subdistrict, reached a boiling point on Saturday (9/2/23) when two vehicles belonging to PT. BCM, a company operating in the area, were set on fire due to an ongoing clash that had been simmering since Friday (9/1/23).
The incident began with the visit of Deputy Regent H Slamet Somosentono to Paldas Village on Friday (9/1/23), aimed at resolving a dispute between residents and the company. The company had previously agreed to withdraw all of its vehicles from the area until an agreement could be reached between the two parties.
However, after the agreement had not been reached, the company resumed road construction activities in Paldas Village. This action triggered the anger of the residents, which ultimately led to clashes between villagers and company workers.
Faisal, a prominent figure in Paldas Village, condemned the company’s actions that provoked residents by operating before a mutually agreed-upon agreement was reached. He also revealed that prior to this, on Wednesday (8/30/23) night, there had been a meeting between representatives of the community, the village government, and the company at the Deputy Regent’s official residence. The meeting resulted in several temporary agreement points, but all of them were subject to approval by the community.
One of the agreement points concerned the land that the company’s vehicles would pass through, which would be measured, and the price for compensation would be determined. Additionally, for residents who wished to work for the company, a recommendation from the village head would suffice, and the company offered compensation of 50 million per month starting from January 2024 and onwards.
However, during the deliberations held on Friday in front of the Paldas Village Office, the community rejected the 50 million compensation and insisted on halting the company’s activities.
Faisal explained that after this meeting, information spread that the company’s operating vehicles had been set on fire by a mob. There is a strong suspicion that this act of arson was sparked by the community’s dissatisfaction with the company’s continued operations without adhering to the previously agreed-upon terms.
The situation in Paldas Village remains tense, with authorities working to de-escalate tensions and resolve the dispute in a fair and peaceful manner. Developments will continue to be monitored by the community and relevant authorities.