Protests greet Batam's new port

November 6, 2006. At least a 100 people rallied
to protest Batam's controversial
new international port that opened Sunday
because they feared the new facility
would cost them their jobs.

The director of sea transportation at
the Transportation Ministry, Jimmy Nikijulu told
The Jakarta Post said the ministry issued
PT Citra Tritunas a permit to operate the
Harbor Bay Port in Batu Ampar to
help develop the region.

The facility, which serves the Batam-Singapore
trade route, is the fifth -- to open in the region
after the Batam Centre, Nongsa Pura,
Teluk Sinimba and Sekupang ports.

"All the ports have ready markets," Jimmy said.
Harbor Bay could create extra demand
for passengers traveling between
the island and Singapore, he said.

"Anyone has the right to invest in this sector
as long as all the (legal) requirements are
met," Jimmy said while greeting the first arrival
of the Wave Master ferry from Singapore.

The Harbour Bay development has caused
controversy here because protesters say
the city's 2002 spatial plan only
allows the port to cater for
cargo ships and not passenger ferries.

Its critics say the other ports are
adequate to serve the less than
a million international travelers that
come to Batam every year.

One protester, Andi Muktar, said if
the port continued to operate, taxi driver's
incomes would plummet. Drivers would
spend more traveling between the old
and new terminals and would face increased
competition at the new port, he said.

Citra Tritunas general manager Jong Hua
said the investment and construction in
the new port and shopping development
had created many permanent jobs in the area.

The Batam Industrial Development Authority and
the city administration have said they were
not involved in issuing the operating license for
the new port. But there has been no response
following protests from the Authority, officials
said.