Freeport says not support Irian Jaya's independence

Copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) denied the allegation that it was supporting the independence movement in Irian Jaya.

Richard C. Adkerson, president of American mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., which is the majority shareholder of Freeport Indonesia, insisted during the company's recent shareholders in Washington that FI, as the mining contractor of the Indonesian government, stayed away from political matters.

"The company is a government contractor and as a matter of policy does not participate in political activities," Adkerson said during the meeting.

The shareholders meeting took place on May 3 but the report on the results of the meeting were only available at the company's website on Tuesday.

Adkerson made the statement in response to the statement made by John Rumbiak, an Indonesian citizen living in Irian Jaya, during the meeting.

Acting as proxy for Mary Catherine Baldi, who beneficially owns 5 percent shares of Freeport McMoRan's common stocks, Rumbiak claimed that FI was supporting the independence movement of Irian Jaya, which is now more popularly known as West Papua.

But he said the support was only "to pacify the Papuans."

FI operates a giant copper and gold mine in the Grasberg area of Irian Jaya. (Bodega)