Govt forms fact finding team on Freeport

The government has formed a fact-finding team to investigate the environmental impact of the activity of giant gold mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia in Irian Jaya, according to Minister of Environmental Sonny Keraf.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Sonny said that the result of the fact finding team would become a basis to decide on whether to revise the mining contract of Freeport or demand the company to pay a compensation.

Separately, the Bisnis Indonesia daily quoted Sonny as saying that he preferred a revision in the Freeport contract in a bid to protect the environment and the social interest of the local people.

There has been increasing demand for the government to shut down or revise the contract of Freeport on alleged environmental destruction, human rights violation, and corrupt practices.

But Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab has repeatedly said that the government would honor Freeport mining contract. (*)