Freeport's never-ending story<\/p>\n
Responding to the letters sent to The Jakarta Post accusing
\nand defending PT Freeport Indonesia, I would like to say the
\nissue actually is not whether there is an environmental
\ncatastrophe, but indeed the issue is the \"never-ending dispute\".
\nEvery party wants to take advantage of Gresberg's gold riches. It
\nis like the old western movies in the U.S.<\/p>\n
If you happen to be in the jungles of Irian Jaya, especially
\nin the remote areas, please ask the Irianese: Who is the most
\npopular person in the world, and who is lurah (village chief),
\ncamat (district chief), bupati (regent), governor or president?
\nThe answer, which you will probably not expect and which will
\nlikely shock you, will either be Mr. Bruce E. Marsh or Mr. John
\nCutts, both from Freeport.<\/p>\n
Another funny thing is the response of the people to
\ngovernment officials if they and Freeport representatives pay a
\nvisit on the locals together. The Irianese applaud the Freeport
\npeople and boo the government officials.<\/p>\n
I was well acquainted with Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cutts when I
\nworked for Freeport for nearly four years. In the middle of the
\nmountainous jungles, under extremely poor weather conditions and
\nat an altitude of anywhere from between 7,000 and 14,000 feet,
\nthey were not hesitant to spend time with and sometimes spend the
\nnight with locals in their traditional Honai houses. They
\npatiently talked and listened to the people, ate the same food
\nand drank the same water.<\/p>\n
During my four years working with freeport, I worked very
\nclose with these two men. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cutts taught me very
\nvaluable lessons about people, especially the Irianese. They
\nbroadened my mind as nobody else ever had. In fact, Mr. Marsh had
\na lot of ideas about developing Irian Jaya and solving the
\ntailing problem environmentally and socially. But like myself, I
\noften saw him very frustrated with his job. His programs could
\nnot run as he had hoped. Probably, this was the reason why he
\nquit Freeport and worked in Arizona for one year. Other good
\npeople who were frustrated with Freeport's management also left
\nthe company.<\/p>\n
I agree with Mr. Marsh that there are many good people at
\nFreeport, and he also must agree that too much politics is
\ninvolved in Freeport's management. When government officials
\nvisit the operational area, they are extremely hesitant to spend
\ntime with the locals. They prefer helicopter tours of
\nTembagapura, rather than talking to the locals. When it is time
\nto go home, they usually ask for a nice souvenir. No official
\never came away from their visit with a solid solution to the
\nenvironmental and social problems facing the area and residents
\naround Freeport's operations.<\/p>\n
We all know Freeport's original contract of work was made with
\na corrupt and repressive regime. This might be the reason why Mr.
\nAndrew Trigg said the regime \"would have sold the country's soul
\nif it would mean an extra zillion bucks in its own pocket\".<\/p>\n
We are all aware that we made mistakes, particularly in the
\npast, and now we are brave enough to say what is good and what is
\nbad. With our new legitimate government, good people like Mr.
\nMarsh and Mr. Cutts from Freeport, the legislators and the
\nIrianese should sit down together to discuss and try to find a
\nsolution to their disputes, and a new policy and system for the
\nmining industry that would please all people and parties, and
\nwhich sooner or later would be implemented.<\/p>\n
PARLINDUNGAN SIBARANI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freeports-never-ending-story-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }