Freeport not involved in Timika case: Rights body<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Not one witness of the alleged murder, torture
\nor disappearance of civilians in Timika, Irian Jaya, mentioned
\nany involvement by PT Freeport, a giant American mining company,
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
"None of the 23 witnesses we interviewed said that the mining
\ncompany was involved in the human rights abuses in Timika,"
\nClementino dos Reis Amaral, a member of the commission, told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The commission set up the team to investigate the alleged
\nmurder of 17 civilians. It is alleged that 25 people were also
\ntortured and four had disappeared around Timika in the Fak-Fak
\nregency of Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The news was first reported by non-governmental organizations
\nand the Australian Council for Overseas Aid. According to
\nreports, members of the Armed Forces arrested and killed
\nindigenous Irianese protesting against the expansion of PT
\nFreeport.<\/p>\n
Amaral, as well as commission members Marzuki Darusman, Djoko
\nSugianto and Soegiri, went to Timika to get first-hand
\ninformation about the case last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, five non-governmental organizations filed
\ntheir own investigative report to the commission. They say that
\nthe authorities had abused villagers opposed to the activities of
\nthe American copper mining company.<\/p>\n
Report<\/p>\n
The NGOs stated in their report that PT Freeport was
\nresponsible for the incidents. They recounted that locals had
\nprotested the company's right to mine the land since 1975.<\/p>\n
The NGOs said that 70 soldiers guard the company, which
\nprovides them with facilities. The say the soldiers tortured the
\nlocals on company property, making it responsible for the
\nviolation.<\/p>\n
"Without undermining the meaning of economic development by PT
\nFreeport investment, we urge the government to stop the killing,
\nintimidation and labeling of the people as rebels," the statement
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The pledge came four months after the first report about a
\nseries of clashes between the military and the local people early
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
The earlier report, written by the Australian Council for
\nOverseas Aid, was sent to the Indonesian Conference of Church
\nElders in Jakarta by Jayapura Bishop Munninghof.<\/p>\n
Munninghof said that while the contents of the report were yet
\nto be confirmed, the church and the commission must pay serious
\nattention to the matter. The military previously denied all
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
Amaral said he was convinced the people's statements were true
\nbecause they were not afraid to specify local authorities as
\nbeing involved.<\/p>\n
"But none of them said that PT Freeport was involved in the
\ncase," he said<\/p>\n
Amaral said he had asked the local authorities to protect the
\nwitnesses. He said the authorities agreed to the request.<\/p>\n
The result of the investigation will only be revealed after
\nthe commission completes a second investigation, he said<\/p>\n
"The new investigative team will leave for Timika at the end
\nof this month to interview some key persons and confirm the first
\ninvestigation," Amaral explained.<\/p>\n
Amaral said the Army was posted in Irian jaya to quell
\nseparatist movements in the region.<\/p>\n
He refused to say whether any victims were members or
\nsympathizers of a separatist movement.<\/p>\n
"We will re-check that in the coming investigation," he
\npromised, adding that 85 percent of the confirmation was already
\nin his hands. (03)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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