Irian tribal chief denies dropping suit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The leader of the Irian Jaya Amungme tribe, Tom
\nBeanal, who is heading for the United States for a court hearing,
\ndenies that he ever asked to withdraw his lawsuit.<\/p>\n
\"Tom Beanal has never asked that his US$6 billion class action
\nlawsuit be withdrawn from the U.S. District Court in New
\nOrleans,\" Tom's American Lawyer, Martin E. Regan, told The
\nJakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Tom has never terminated the employment contract of myself as
\nhis lawyer, either,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He said that Tom has only asked to withdraw a letter, which he
\nsigned, stating that he had no intention of continuing with his
\nlawsuit.<\/p>\n
\"Tom signed the letter at midnight on May 2, upon pressure
\nfrom a third party. Tom had failed to contact me to verify the
\ncontents of the letter,\" he said. The lawyer refused to identify
\nthe third party.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit, filed last month at the district court, lists
\nFreeport-McMoRan Inc. and its mining affiliate, Freeport-McMoRan
\nCopper and Gold Inc. of New Orleans, as the defendants.<\/p>\n
The suit claims Freeport engaged in \"eco-terrorism\", \"cultural
\ngenocide\" and corporate policies that led to human rights
\nviolations against tribal people, as well as environmental
\ndestruction of resources the tribe needs.<\/p>\n
The Freeport mine, some 3,000 kilometers (1,870 miles) east of
\nJakarta, sits on one of the largest known gold and copper
\nreserves in the world.<\/p>\n
The hearing is scheduled to begin at the U.S. District Court
\nin New Orleans this Friday. It will be presided over by Judge
\nStanwood Duval.<\/p>\n
Freeport Indonesia is 82-percent owned by Freeport-McMoRan
\nCopper and Gold Inc. The Indonesian government and a private
\ncompany, PT Indocopper Investama, own 9 percent each. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/irian-tribal-chief-denies-dropping-suit-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}