PT Freeport's fund should be rearranged<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The distribution of PT Freeport Indonesia's
\ndevelopment fund should be rearranged so that it will not cause
\nproblems or conflict among Irian Jaya tribes that receive it, a
\nhuman rights official says.<\/p>\n
"The distribution and utilization of the 1 percent fund should
\nbe corrected," said Bambang Soeharto of the National Commission
\non Human Rights, adding that it should be ensured that the money
\nreached the right people.<\/p>\n
"Recent protest by people in Timika was because the fund was
\nnot distributed fairly," he said. "There was an indication that
\nrather than reaching appointed foundations, the money was
\npocketed by certain individuals."<\/p>\n
He did not elaborate but said that it was the recent fund
\ndisbursement that triggered conflict between the tribes.<\/p>\n
Bambang just returned from a trip to Timika where four people
\ndied last month, including two in riots that local leaders linked
\nto the rising tension over the disbursement of the development
\nfund by giant mining company Freeport.<\/p>\n
Rp 2.3 billion (US$800.000) was involved, which was meant to
\nbe divided among seven tribes affected by the company's
\noperations. They were the Amungme, Kamoro, Moni, Ekari, Dani,
\nDamal and Nduga tribes.<\/p>\n
Last year, controversy over the fund caused tribal warfare
\nthat killed 12 people.<\/p>\n
Bambang called for the establishment of a forum to discuss and
\nfind solutions to the problems in Timika. The forum should
\ninclude the National Development Planning Board, the Armed
\nForces, the local government, local people and Freeport, he said.<\/p>\n
The company's vice president for environmental affairs, Bruce
\nE. Marsh, said on Tuesday that the company planned to continue to
\nallocate 1 percent of its profit for local community development,
\nbut would also start discussing ways of distributing the fund
\ndifferently.<\/p>\n
"The problem is not the fund," he said. "What's causing
\nconflict is how the money has been distributed."<\/p>\n
He said the rights commission had suggested that "it would be
\nmore effective" if the money was presented to each village and
\nthe locals were allowed to decide how to use the fund.<\/p>\n
Marsh said the discussion on rearranged distribution had yet
\nto be finalized. "But the idea is still there of how to send the
\nmoney out to the locals to provide for their essential needs,
\nsuch as health care, education, housing, roads and drinking
\nwater."<\/p>\n
Separately, the three main churches in Mimika regency, Irian
\nJaya, along with the Foundation of Amungme's Consultative
\nInstitution, expressed disappointment over the rights
\ncommission's visit to the area.<\/p>\n
They said in a statement that the commission had not performed
\na thorough and comprehensive investigation into various problems
\nin Timika.<\/p>\n
The churches also questioned whether the commission's two-day
\nvisit, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, was enough to find a solution to the
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
The commission had earlier said that they were not visiting
\nTimika to investigate the riots but to "familiarize" themselves
\nwith the area and its problems. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pt-freeports-fund-should-be-rearranged-1447893297",
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