Freeport has yet to find four missing workers
Friday, May 12 2000 - 04:20 AM WIB
Copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia and the police have yet to find the four workers reported missing after the collapse of the Wanagon overburden dump near its copper and gold mine in the Grasberg area, Irian Jaya last week.
Company external communication manager Mindo Pangaribuan said the rescue team of the company and police had located the bags and other items believed to belong to the four.
The company had also contacted the relatives of the missing people in Southeast Maluku, Toraja, South Sulawesi; and Serui, Irian Jaya, Mindo was quoted by The Jakarta Post as saying on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Irian Jaya provincial council's commission F planned to meet with Freeport's management on Friday (today) over the incident.
Commission secretary Anton Kelinangamet said the incident was "unreasonable" given the fact that the company had many mining and geological experts, Kompas reported.
Anton also said the Commission would raise questions about the complaints of 24 Irian native workers of the company who had quitted due to the alleged discriminatory policy of the company.
Anton accused the company of damaging the environment and the local culture.
Anton, who is a native of the Timika area located around Freeport's gold mine, said the Wanagon Lake, used to be a sacred place for the local people, but the sacredness of the place diminished after Freeport arrived. (*)