Nine-month LPG station blockade ends in violence

MEDAN: A nine-month blockade on a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)station ended in chaos on Thursday with several protesters injured in a clash with police, who forcibly dismantled the barricade.

One resident, Edward Pakpahan, said the police had been overly aggressive, resulting in injuries to protesters.

He said the police’s dismantling of the makeshift barricade had not quelled the protesters’ opposition to the station.

The residents have opposed to the construction of the gas filling and transporting station, owned by PT Petrogas Sindo Energi, arguing the station is located inside their residential complex.

“The standard operational procedure stipulates that the gas station should only be built in a non-residential area,” Edward told The Jakarta Post.

Recurrent incidents involving exploding gas cylinders has, according to Edward, led the residents to worry also about their safety.

The police said the nine-month blockade had been disruptive to public interest.

“We received a complaint from the company over the blockade, which had hindered its operations,” Medan Police deputy Adj. Snr. Comr. Andreas Kalalembang said. — JP