Walhi files appeal against Court decision over Freeport

The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) filed on Friday an appeal against the South Jakarta District Court's decision over Walhi's legal suit against Freeport, Neraca daily reported on Saturday.

Walhi contended that the court decision was not totally correct to answer its lawsuit on the rights over information, and therefore, the decision needs to be reviewed, according to Walhi deputy director Suwiryo Ismail.

The court in its verdict issued on August 28, 2001 accepted some elements of Walhi's lawsuit against Freeport but rejected some other elements.

The court accepted part of Walhi's lawsuit that Freeport had acted against the law by giving wrong information regarding the fallout of its Wanagon overburden disposal site. Nevertheless, the court rejected Walhi's demand that Freeport make a public apology for the mistake.

The court also instructed Freeport to improve its efforts to minimize the toxic level of its overburden dumped at Wanagon, and therefore, it would not pollute water accordingly.

"I consider that verdict is not totally correct, and therefore it needs to be improved," Suwiryo said.

Nevertheless, in some cases, he agreed with the panel of judges that tried the case, especially on the issue of improving treatment over the toxic waste. (*)