THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES IN TIMIKA FORCEFULLY TOOK AWAY THE PEOPLE'S DOCUMENT

Report by : LEMASA (AMUNGME COUNCIL)

Timika, Irian Jaya (West Papua) (14 August 1996)

As described in the recent reports of Amungme Council (LEMASA) Freeport cooperates with the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) and government to terrorise, intimidate, divide and conquer the indigenous people of Timika. Those various human rights abuses done by Freeport and its agents are aimed at threatening the indigenous peoples so that they're afraid and will withdraw (stop) their lawsuit claim against the American gigantic mining company and will accept the 1 % Trust Fund (U$ 15 million) offered by the company which was already rejected by the people last 29 June 1996 (see: LEMASA's Resolution 29 June 1996).

Again today Monday 12 August 1996 another incident on this lawsuit case occurred in Timika. The Indonesia Armed Forces (ABRI) that protect PT. Freeport Indonesia forcefully took away the claim forms (against Freeport) signed by the indigenous people of Timika for their attorney, Martin Regan, in New Orleans in the United States.

Freeport, as stated in the people's legal authorization to the attorney - Martin Regan, is claimed by the indigenous people tribal groups (Amungme, Dani, Moni, Nduga, Kamoro, Ekari) to have caused environmental destruction and human rights abuses in its area of operation. For the cases since 25 April 1996 Amungme elder Tom Beanal, through his attorney - Martin Regan has sued Freeport in its homeland - New Orleans district court. Since then more than 2,000 individuals (victims) have joined in the lawsuit against the company.

On the morning of 12 August around 7 00 a.m. Pilemon Dolame, an Amungme Council (LEMASA) staff, member after collecting signatures of the claimants in Kwamki Lama village, Timika carried the claim forms within his string bag and waited for a taxi in Kwamki Lama market to go to the LEMASA office in Kwamki Baru, Timika where he was to ship the document to Mr. Regan in the US. As he was waiting his "friend" Simon who is a "motor bike taxi rider" (tukang ojek - local term) came up to him and offered him a ride. But as both had a chat, suddenly Simon forcefully pulled away the bag from Pilemon's shoulder and took out the document in it. He looked through the document (claim forms within which the claimants signed their names). Pilemon was trying to get the document back from him but the man refused. Simon held the document and forced Pilemon to get on the motorbike and both rode to Mess Pupurimina (special force troops base) in Timika.

Without explaining why he took the document Simon took out the document and showed it to Captain Yan Pulung, special force commander of Timika. (This special forces commander, as reported in "Timika, After Amungme Reject the 1 % Trust Fund Freeport" July 1996, is very famous for his great support of Freeport and his intimidation of the people). But the captain refused to accept the document saying that he is not in charge of such cases. He is in charge of political activities such as Security disturbers (GPK). Nevertheless he asked Simon to take Pilemon with the document to Danramil Timika (the Rayon Military Commander).

Danramil explored the document and he said that he would have to contact Dandim Timika (District Military Commander) Timika to show him the document. Simon, who Pilemon identified as military intelligence agent that usually goes under cover as tukang ojek, disappeared. In the meantime Pilemon was asked by the Danramil to wait at the Danramil office. It took him almost three hours waiting so Pilemon went to inform the elders at LEMASA office and asked for their help.

Yosepha Alomang (one of last year's human rights victims as reported by the Bishop of Jayapura) and other 4 Amungme elders of LEMASA went to see Danramil. But some soldiers at the Danramil office said that Danramil and Pilemon have gone with the document to the Timika Police Station.

Danramil reported about the document to the head of the Timika police, Captain Pol. Mohamad Saleh and asked the police to keep the document. He also asked the police to interogate Pilemon Dolame about the document. In answering the police questions Pilemon tried to explain about the nature of the claim forms and told the police that it is the peoples' right to sue Freeport. "Thse document (claim forms) are legal. You have no right at all to keep the peoples' property". But the police didn't listen to him.

In the meantime five elders of LEMASA arrived at the police station. They also tried to explain and asked for their document. Five times LEMASA people have gone back and forth to the Police Station to ask for their document. But the police have denied them and keep keep saying that the document is with Captain Mohammad Saleh, the head of the police.

Actual information received at LEMASA this afternoon (3.00 pm, 14 August) from some elders and staff of LEMASA -Yosepha Alomang, Yohanes Amisim, Pilemon Dolame and Martinus Ondioma who went to Danramil office this afternoon, quoting Danramil Captain Manusiwa - said that the document is not at Polsek Timika but at Koramil office. "Captain Manusiwa said that he have only been for 2 days in Timika as Danramil replacing the former Danramil so he needs time to study the document whether or not it relates to any political activity such as GPK (term labeled by authorities to denote Irianese people fighting for their rights), explained mama Yosepha at the LEMASA office this afternoon. Until now (3.45 pm, 14 August) the LEMASA claimants have not yet received their document back from the police or the military.