Irianese tribes want activists for Freeport audit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tribes from Irian Jaya have asked the government
\nto include international environmental organizations in the team
\nto assess the impact of Freeport Indonesia's gold mining
\noperation on the environment in the province.<\/p>\n
Baliem Valley Foundation, a non-profit organization
\nrepresenting a number of tribes living near the Jayawijaya
\nmountain, said the involvement of the international green groups
\nwas needed to ensure fairness.<\/p>\n
\"We can ask the Rainbow Warrior team from Greenpeace or
\nFriends of the Earth to take part in the environmental audit
\nteam,\" the spokesman for the foundation, Edmond R. Ernst, said in
\na seminar on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The foundation has strongly protested the mining operation of
\nFreeport Indonesia in the province, now known as Papua, claiming
\nit has accelerated the melting process of the ice cap on Carstenz
\nand Meren in the Jayawijaya mountain range.<\/p>\n
\"There are no other large mining activities but Freeport near
\nthe glacier area that could disturb the mountain range and speed
\nup the melting process,\" Edmond said.<\/p>\n
Jayawijaya mountain range, one of three equatorial highlands
\nwhose summit is covered by an ice cap, is a world heritage site.<\/p>\n
An environmental audit conducted by Montgomery Watson found
\nthe melting of the glaciers was not related to Freeport mining
\noperations.<\/p>\n
Montgomery Watson described Freeport's environmental
\nmanagement system as a \"showcase for the mining industry\", citing
\nthe company's compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
\nEnvironmental experts and legislators criticized the audit, and
\nthe firm also has been blamed for a lack of concern for local
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists and members of the House of Representatives
\nhave called on the government to review Freeport's Indonesian
\nmining contracts.<\/p>\n
The government has established a joint verification team
\ncomprising senior officials from the Office of the State Minister
\nof Environment and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to review the
\naudit results.<\/p>\n
According to glacier examination conducted by Indonesian
\nInstitute of Science, local warming in Papua increased the
\nmelting process and the ice was estimated to disappear by 2040
\nunless Indonesia took action.<\/p>\n
Edmond said the reclamation of a depleted area should be done
\nin stages, instead of waiting until Freeport's contract of work
\nfinished in 2040.<\/p>\n
\"We must invite the local community to participate in the
\nreclamation of the exploited area to keep the world heritage site
\nas a sustainable environment in the future,\" Edmond said.<\/p>\n
Freeport Indonesia is an affiliate of Freeport-McMoRan Copper
\n& Gold of New Orleans.(07)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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