Papua proposes a local expert to lead PT Freeport Indonesia

The Papua administration has asked the central government to allow a local geologist to become one of the top executives at giant gold mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia.

Deputy governor John Djapari said that the local administration was proposing MA Naidepa, a Papua indigenous and a geologist trained in Japan and New Zealand, to be at Freeport's board of directors.

John was also quoted by the Media Indonesia daily, as saying that there has to be some changes in the contract of Freeport with the government that would benefit the local people.

John was speaking to the press following a meeting with Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri. (*)