Referring to the Papuan resistance group that recently took some hostages, Freeport spokesman Bill Collier (Letters, Jan 26) sanctimoniously intones that "we won't talk with or enter into a dialog with terrorists who are holding human lives at risk." Oddly, Freeport has no qualms about working hand in glove with the terrorist Indonesian Army who are engaged in a campaign of murder, torture, and harassment to drive away the inconvenient inhabitants of the area Freeport is exploiting. In exchange for their services, these terrorists receive direct logistical support from Freeport, plus a massive profit share to Gen. Suharto's regime. Despite damning evidence of the soldiers' brutal activities as security forces for Freeport, the powerful company has given no indication that it will change its relation with the army. Instead it has attempted to divert public attention to the irrelevant question of whether the murders and torturers are technically "Freeport personnel." While the American-Statesman's coverage has generally been good, your reporters unfortunately show some signs of having fallen for this shell games (e.g., "U.S. finds no evidence of abuses by Freeport," Jan. 20).

Stephen Wechsler, Austin, 78751