Freeport needs to adjust approach to social issues<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
\nyesterday revealed that initial reports of a social audit of PT
\nFreeport's activities in Irian Jaya show that the mining giant
\nstill needs to make adjustments in its dealings with the local
\npopulation.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the auditors' preliminary report, Freeport needs to
\nmake corrections in its handling of social issues in its
\nsurrounding areas,\" Sarwono told journalists after reporting the
\ninitial findings of the audit to President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He added that the government will establish pointers on social
\nprograms on which Freeport could base their own programs.<\/p>\n
\"The government's task is to provide a guide for Freeport and
\nother investors in the context of running their social programs,\"
\nSarwono said.<\/p>\n
The New Orleans-based company currently runs one of the
\nbiggest copper and gold mines in the world. Over the past few
\nmonths, there has been some unrest surrounding the mining area in
\nTimika regency, which some locals and observers allege was the
\nresults of inequalities created by the Freeport mine.<\/p>\n
The audit on the impact of PT Freeport Indonesia on its social
\nenvironment, conducted by international auditors Labat and
\nAnderson, was expected to be released sometime last month.<\/p>\n
Sarwono yesterday explained that the full audit would take
\nlonger then expected, since the issue is extremely complex.<\/p>\n
An environmental audit by Dames and Moore issued in April
\nconcluded that PT Freeport is an environmentally conscious
\ncompany. The environmental audit also gained the immediate
\nbacking of the Ministry of Environment.<\/p>\n
Sarwono noted that the lack of guidelines for social
\nactivities is a missing ingredient which would help foreign
\ncompanies when encountering such situations as those in Irian
\nJaya.<\/p>\n
\"We can't let them operate and conduct things based merely on
\ntheir own perceptions. That is what creates the problem,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He asserted, however, that the government has no intention
\nwhatsoever of closing the company's operations in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
Sarwono also said that the preliminary report of the social
\naudit has found that the root of the problem lies in the fact
\nthat a multinational and modern company like Freeport conducts
\nits activities in the middle of a traditional society.<\/p>\n
\"Freeport's neighbors are our brothers, the local inhabitants
\nwhose level of civilization is still very simple. That's the core
\nof the problem,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
The report also found that the government's limited presence
\nin the area was one of the reasons for the lack of a conducive
\nclimate to promote better understanding.<\/p>\n
\"The government's position (there) is still very weak, since
\nit is only represented by a district chief,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In an administrative reorganization, the government has
\nannounced that Timika will be elevated to become an
\nadministrative regency.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the continued presence of the military apparatus
\nthere, Sarwono maintained that it was needed to maintain order in
\nthe region.<\/p>\n
\"Without the presence of the military, nothing could be done,\"
\nhe said. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freeport-needs-to-adjust-approach-to-social-issues-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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