Walhi demands Freeport apologize in mass media
Wednesday, August 23 2000 - 02:30 AM WIB
The high profile Indonesian Forum for Environment or popularly called Walhi demanded gold mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia to make an apology in local and international mass media for providing misleading information.
Walhi said that Freeport had provided the public with misleading information about the recent fatal landslide accident at its overburden waste dumping site at the Wanagon Lake to protect itself.
During the first hearing session of the legal case between Walhi and Freeport at the South Jakarta Court on Tuesday, Walhi lawyers said that Freeport must publish a full-page advertisement for one week in at least 10 national daily newspapers, and two local daily news papers in the West Papua province, one-page advertisement for a month in at least 10 national magazines, five international magazines, and in three international daily newspapers.
The company must also air similar advertisement in national TV stations for 10 days, the lawyers added.
Walhi filed a legal suit against Freeport following a landslide accident in May at the latter's overburden dumping site at Wanagon Lake in West Papua which had killed four mining workers.
The hearing was adjourned until September 13. Freeport lawyers will submit their responses during the date.(R. Amoros)