Thousands rally in Lampung for electricity

Thousands of people in Lampung are blocking the gate of the company they claim is cutting their access to electricity and clean water.

The protestors, from Rawajitu Timur district in Tulangbawang regency, demanded that CP Prima allow state electricity company PT PLN to use the infrastructure of its nearby subsidiary, PT Aruna Wijaya Sakti, such as the power grid, roads and electricity poles, tempo.co reported.

About 45,000 residents have not had electricity and clean water since June when PT Aruna Wijaya Sakti cut off their access to electricity and clean water following a conflict with plasma fish-pond farmers, according to the protestors.

“The company bans PT PLN from using its electricity network so that in the past half year we have lived without electricity and clean water,” protest leader Budi Setioko said.

Budi said that CP Prima ignored a request from Tulangbawang Regent Abdurrahman Sarbini to allow PLN access to the company’s infrastructure.