It was with great displeasure that I read "Feeding the politics of drought" (AFR Opinion,December 29). I feel compelled to set the record straight regarding the ill-in-formed opinions of the author , Lee Rhiannon, director of AID/WATCH.

The human suffering occurring in Irian Jaya (West Papua) seems to have finally caught the eye of people such as the author of the article. However, Freeport Indonesia has been involved in famine-relief efforts since early in the crisis, providing a vital source of transport and logistical support for medical, food and water shipments to the stricken Baliem Valley regon and to areas near the mine site.

Freeport Indonesia medical teams and logistics personal have worked with the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Economc and Social Council (UNESCO, as well as the Indonesian Government, to co-ordinate relief programs since early September.

Indeed, Freeport Indonesia is subsidising most of the costs involved with the non-governmental organisations relief efforts. To date, Freeport Indonesia has spent millions of dollars on medical supplies, food stuff, potable water, medical services and transport in areas both within and well outside of our project area. Freeport Indonesia remains extremely concerned about the situation in Irian Jaya, and we will continue to workvery hard to help those in need.

The author is correct in asserting the incidence of infectious diseases that have disappeared in other parts of Indonesia is still commonplace in Irian Jaya (West Papua). What the author failed to point out, however, is that in Freeport Indonesia's area of operations, life expectancy has risen two-fold, infant mortality has dropped significantly and our malaria control unit has reduced malaria incidence to nearly single digits.

Our failure to trumpet our actions in the famine relief efforts in Irian Jaya stemmed from our desire not to be seen as exploiting human suffering for public-relations gain. Unfortunately , the author seems to have mistaken our silence for inaction. Ironically, your readers might be interested to know that among the many Indonesian and international organisations with whom we have worked during this crisis, we have yet to come across any AID/WATCH personal rendering assistance in the field.

Edward J. Pressman
Manager,
Public Affairs,
P.T. Freeport Indonesia,
Jakarta Indonesia