Residents Occupy PLN Office in Fight Against New Yogyakarta Airport

Dozens of residents opposed to the construction of the New Yogyakarta International Airport (NYIA) in Kulon Progo occupied the Yogyakarta branch office of state utility company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) during a rally on Thursday.

They asserted they would continue occupying the PLN office until it restored the electricity supply to their houses, which are located in the NYIA project area.

Four women were injured by pieces of a glass door at the PLN office that was broken after the protesters, who were supported by student activists, and police officers engaged in a clash.

“PLN cut off the electricity connections to our houses without our prior consent. Our children are taking their school exams this week but they cannot study to prepare for their exams because there is no electricity. Where is their responsibility?” said Dariyah in her oration during the rally.

The case began when PLN, together with state airport operator Angkasa Pura (AP) I, as the NYIA developer, and police officers, cut off on Nov. 7, 2017, electricity connections to houses belonging to 37 families who stood against the construction of the airport. The residents reported the case to the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI) Yogyakarta.

ORI concluded in its decision on Jan.16 that PLN had committed maladministration because it did not inform the residents beforehand. The residents called on PLN to immediately restore the electricity connections to their houses.

PLN Yogyakarta’s planning manager Akbar Hurianda said the company had cut off the electricity connections at the request of AP I.

Courtesy : ThejakartaPost
Photo : AntaraNews.com

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