Jakarta should transfer its Freeport stake to Papua administration

The central government should transfer its nine percent stake in gold giant mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia to the Papua administration instead of urging the latter to raise cash to purchase Freeport shares, according to chairman of the Ecomine Nusa Lestarti foundation Rachman Wiriosudarmo.

Rachman said that the transfer of the Freeport stake would be seen as a token of appreciation of Jakarta to the Papua people.

Rachman was responding to reports that the Papua administration has plans to have a stake in Freeport, which has a large gold reserves in the province. But several government officials had said that the Papua plan could only be realized if the local administration have enough money to purchase the shares. Jakarta has said that the Freeport shares would not be given for free.(R. Amoros)