Govt to place ads to contest Freeport audit

State Minister for Environment Affairs Sonny Alexander Keraf said here on Monday that his office would place an advertisement on the local media to contest the result of the environment audit announced by copper and gold mining compant PT Freeport Indonesia recently.

Keraf said that the result of the environment audit announced by the mining giant through a full page advertisement on a local newspaper was too perfect to be called "fair" because it was published without any verification from Bapedal, the government body which is in charge of monitoring the impact of industrial activities on the environment.

"It is not fair for Freeport to announce the audit result without a verification. It needs a verfication before being announced," he said, adding that his office would place a similar advertisement to contest the audit result issued by independent auditor Montogomery.

Legislators and non-government organizations have called on the government to revise the contracts of works issued to Freeport to explore and produce copper and gold in Irian Jaya. They charged the American giant's mining operations have severely damaged the environment.

Noted lawyer Frans Hendra Winarta and the chairman of the chairman of an agency on the assessment of public policy (LPKP) said on Monday the government should revise the contracts granted to the company if there is a proof that Freeport breaches the contracts.

"The contract is no too sacred to be revised as both parties agree to do so," Noorsy said.(*)