Ministry and House to send team to Freeport

State Ministry of environment and the House of Representatives' Commission VIII for mines and energy would send their own teams to check the operation of copper and gold mine PT Freeport Indonesia in Irian Jaya.

Republika daily quoted State Minister of Environment's Assistant for Environmental Resources Management Soeryo Adiwibowo as saying that the ministry's team would make a visit to Freeport's copper and gold mine from March 28 to 31.

The team would check the alleged environmental damage caused by Freeport's on the surrounding area, he said.

Meanwhile, Media Indonesia reported, head of the House's Commission VIII Irwan Prayitno said eight legislators of the Commission would visit Freeport's mine on April 11 to check the losses inflicted by Freeport on the local people.

Irwan said the Commission had initially planned to hold a hearing with Freeport on Monday next week but the hearing was delayed until the team made the visit.

Pramono Anung, a member of the commission, protested the Commissions' decision to delay the hearing, saying they already had enough data about Freeport to be discussed during the hearing.

The visit was unnecessary because there were plentiful data about Freeport in Jakarta.

Pramono was among the eight commission members selected for the visit but he said he would not go.

Media Indonesia quoted sources as saying the House lacked fund to fully finance the visit and Freeport would cover some of the costs. But, Freeport's spokesman Sidharta Mursyid denied that the company would cover some of the costs. (*)