Broadcast from Tapol on April 17, 1996.

Translated from Indonesian by TAPOL, tapol@gn.apc.org

To: The Governor of the Province of Irian Jaya (West Papua), Jayapura

With respect,

After having read and studied the basic programme contained in the document presented by Mr James R. Moffett at a meeting today, Saturday, 14 April 1996 at Beses Camp, we of the Lemasa wish to present the following points:

1. The meeting that took place was not a meeting between the local inhabitants and Freeport and the Government for the purposes of resolving the roots of the problem as requested by Lemasa. The only thing that happened at the meeting was that an explanation was given in response to the demands presented by the people who were involved in the disturbances a month ago.
2. The demands that were presented by the rioters at the meeting a month ago with Mr Moffett were not the aspirations of the Amungme people as presented by Lemasa. It should be clearly understood that the demands of the Amungme community are related to the rights to recognition of the existence of the Amungme tribe, to sustaining their livelihood and to compensation for the damage inflicted on their environment, for their resources and for the human rights abuses to which they have been subjected.
3. Lemasa strongly objects to the statement that was presented by Freeport because it fails to answer the roots of the problem between Freeport and the Amungme. Furthermore, the aforesaid Freeport statement could at some future date be used as the basis for reaching a settlement of the roots of the problem, and this would be harmful to the Amungme.
4. In view of the above points, Lemasa, speaking on behalf of the entire Amungme community from Delematagal to Jigimugi will continue to wage a struggle for the rights of the Amungme people as regards their rights to their natural resources and their environment which has been damaged by Freeport. All efforts for the attainment of these objectives will be conducted in accordance with the law and justice as laid down in the Republic of Indonesia.

This is our statement, and we are grateful to you for your attention.

Timika, 14 April 1996

Respectfully,
Tom Beanal, chairman of Lemasa

Copies to:
Mr James R Moffett;
Military Commander of the VIII/Trikora Military Command;
NGOs and churches in Jakarta and Irian Jaya (West Papua);
The press.