Freeport should not be allowed to operate new mining in Irian
Tuesday, July 31 2001 - 02:39 AM WIB
Speaking to Kompas daily, Tom Beanal and Yosepha Alomang both expressed their rejection against Freeport's continuing operation in the country's easternmost province, arguing that the giant mining company had ignored local people for so long.
In addition, they contended that during its 34 years of operation in Irian Jaya, Freeport had created more problems to local people than benefits, such as problems of tailing, employment of local people, the rights of local people over their land, and the empowerment of local people through the so-called "one-percent fund."
Tom Beanal, who used to sue Freeport at its home base of New Orleans in the U.S. but failed, said Freeport had raked in a huge profit from Irian Jaya, but at the same time it had hurt the feeling of local people, disgraced them, and treated them inhumanly.
He said Freeport started to pay attention to the demand of local people only after the reformation movement in Indonesia in 1999. Before that, Freeport had just ignored local people. It always argued that it dealt with the central government, as stipulated in its contract of work.
"In 1997 when hundreds of people were dying from hunger in Jayawijaya regency, Freeport did not at all respond it," Tom Beanal said.
"Freeport lets the people of Irian Jaya to live in poverty and backwardness, while they themselves live in a modern atmosphere," he added.
"I heard that they have found new mining resources spreading from Memberamo, around Yapen Waropen, Puncak Jaya, until the border of New Guinea. Where did they get the license to do those surveys? This area has a master. Therefore, people living here need to be respected."
Similar view was expressed by Mother Yosepha Alomang who said that Freeport's contract of works should not anymore be extended.
"The people are reviewing the contract of works. If necessary, it must be shortened so that Freeport will not anymore operate in this area," she said.
"There are too many problems relating with Freeport. However, Freeport always considers itself as the most right because it has a strong capital to do whatever it wants," she added.
No official responses were given by Freeport over the statements made by Tom Beanal and Mother Yosepha Alomang. Its spokespersons, both in Irian Jaya and in Jakarta, were not available to comment.
Meanwhile, data at Freeport show that it has allocated one percent of its revenue since 1996 to empower local people. This fund is known as Freeport Fund for Irian jaya Development (FFIJD).
The fund was managed by the integrated territorial development (PWT) agency until year 1998, when the management of the fund was taken over by the Irian Jaya Society Development Institute (LPMI), led by Mimika regent.
In 2000, the FFIJD fund totaled US$16.9 million, and had been allocated for housing and public utilities, the development of human resources, of healthcare services, clean water, sanitation and worship facilities as well as the development of local culture. (*)