Kompas
Tuesday, April 3, 2001

Freeport's indifferent attitude towards the rights of the Irian Jaya population is partly to blame for the lengthy conflicts in the region. The people's demand for independence and the rejection of special autonomy are clear manifestations of people's dissatisfaction about the company's attitude.

Thus the statement of the Chairman of the House Committee F on Human Rights, Augustin Iwanggin in Jayapura on Monday (2/4) in connection with Irian Jaya house delegates denouncement of Freeport during a special forum on autonomy- last week.

Cited as being one of the major factors leading toward rejection of special autonomy, was the central government's toleration of Freeport to trample on traditional rights, and close their eyes to the spread of poverty and their reluctant attitude to empower the ethnic population. Many ethnic people were rejected employment by Freeport for reasons of incompetence.

"If they are incompetent, it is PTFI's responsibility to turn them around. They own traditional lands with natural resources of which they are the rightful owners. Nonetheless, not one Irian Jaya ethnic person has thus far been appointed in an influential company position. "Iwanggin remarks.

He added that last week 300 former PTFI ethnic Irian Jaya employees complained to the House Committee F of being fired in 1999 without severance- pay or compensation. The company's human resources division cited as reasons for the dismissals incompliance with company's requirements.

Not transparent

Iwanggin was disappointed seeing that the giant gold and nickel producer until this date has not made any overtures to effect positive changes with regards to the Irian Jaya people. House Committees F and D have called in Freeport representatives together with Bapeda to discuss issues involving the surrounding of PTFI, but to no avail.

In his opinion PTFI is neither sincere nor transparent in its audit reports on finances, production, annual profits, employees recruitment and wage system, amongst others. The reports submitted so far do not reflect actual conditions.
From a humane aspect, Freeport's presence in the region is only aggravating poverty because of the felling of sago trees. Rivers and lakes, the major life sources of the people, have disappeared having become polluted by the giant company's major mining activities.

PTFI has succeeded in producing splendor and success through lavish living and lifestyle amidst poverty and sufferance after making helpful of profits from the region, contrasts as stark as heaven and earth. The Irianese eat sago and roots while the others feast on expensive food and have money aplenty. But PTFI does not feel the least guilty and is not making efforts to improve its management system, " Iwanggin says.

Adding to Iwanggin's comments, Anton Kalinamange who is Secretary of the F Committee, suggests that PTFI should apologize to the people of Irian Jaya for its past mistakes and express willingness to help the people through the special autonomous Government. If need be PTFI should build all infrastructures in the whole of Irian Jaya, from Sorong to Merauke.

Meanwhile from the offices of PTFI in Jayapura comments were heard that PTFI has done whatever it could to improve the welfare levels of the Irian Jaya people especially around the Tembagapura area, and that it will continue to make efforts within the limits of the company's financial capacity to help the people of Irian Jaya in meeting their needs.