Freeport urged to resume operation

The government has urged Freeport Indonesia to resume its mining operation which has been stopped since early this week due to protests from the residents near the company?s mining site in Papua.

?The security condition has returned to normal, but we also understand if Freeport cannot resume the operation promptly,? Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said in Jakarta Friday.

The minister said that a further delay would not only cause financial losses to Freeport but also to the government because the delay would reduce the state revenues from the company.

The government received about US$1 billion in tax and non-tax payment from Freeport in 2005, up from only about $260 million in 2004.

He said that his ministry had cooperated with the national army to help the local police ensure the security in the area. ?The police have formally asked the army to help them in the area,? he added. (godang)