Modify the Freeport contract<\/p>\n
The case involving Freeport Indonesia, the world's largest
\ngold and copper mining company with operations in Irian Jaya,
\ncontinues to be a subject of public debate. Freeport is accused
\nof not only contaminating the environment in which it operates,
\nbut of ravaging it. In addition, its revenue has not
\nsignificantly benefited the government or the people of Irian
\nJaya in terms of taxes, royalties and dividends.<\/p>\n
At the center of the current debate, however, is the company's
\nalleged failure to take responsibility for the destruction of the
\nenvironment and the charges of corruption, collusion and nepotism
\nthat mar its operating contract with the government.<\/p>\n
The gigantic gold mining company -- an American investment
\nproject -- has meanwhile made efforts to correct its oversights.
\nIt has, for instance, donated US$1.27 billion (between 1991 and
\n1998) to the government. A sum of $5.6 billion was made available
\nfor paying employees, purchasing domestic Indonesian products and
\nreinvestment. That means that about 87 percent of its revenue
\nremained in Indonesia. And the damage to the environment covers a
\ntotal area of only 13,000 hectares -- not 30,000 as reported by
\nthe Indonesian Environmental Forum. There also were no human
\nrights violations committed by the company.<\/p>\n
The current demands that the government abrogate the Freeport
\ncontract and the various complaints that accompany this demand
\nresult from the fact that for about a decade the company seemed
\nto have enjoyed the protection of the New Order government
\nagainst any criticism and accusations. We support the view that
\nthe Freeport contract and contracts with other companies should
\nnot be abrogated. Rather, amendments should be made to those
\nclauses in the contracts that do cause problems.<\/p>\n
-- Suara Pembaruan, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/modify-the-freeport-contract-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }