Trust fund could spark tribal warfare: Churches<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leading church groups in Irian Jaya warned
\nyesterday the disbursement of a trust fund designed to help local
\ntribes could spark tensions on tribal warfare.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, three leading churches in the area --
\nthe Kemah Injil Indonesia, Tiga Raja Catholic Church, and Kristen
\nInjil Indonesia -- rejected the second phase disbursement of the
\nfunds and urged the government and mining giant PT Freeport
\nIndonesia to reevaluate the disbursement's first phase.<\/p>\n
They warned the disbursement could generate social jealousies
\nand spark conflict among tribes in the Timika area.<\/p>\n
PT Freeport Indonesia operates a mine in Timika, one of the
\nworld's largest known gold and copper reserves.<\/p>\n
After a series of unrest, the company last year committed 1
\npercent of its annual earning to a trust fund aimed at aiding the
\ndevelopment of tribes in the area.<\/p>\n
The church groups yesterday claimed the disbursement of the
\nfirst phase of the trust fund ignored the Amungme and Komoro
\ntribes, two tribes whom they said were most eligible.<\/p>\n
They urged the government and PT Freeport to hold a dialog
\nwith the Amungme and Komoro tribes, "whose resources have been
\noccupied and exploited by PT FIC (Freeport Indonesia Company) in
\naccordance with the COW (Contract of Work)".<\/p>\n
"If the government and PT Freeport do not heed our
\nsuggestions... the churches won't intervene should something
\nhappen," the statement read.<\/p>\n
If the problem was not immediately addressed it could result
\nin tribal war, Father Nato Gobay of the Catholic church told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Twelve people were killed in last year's tribal war between
\nthe Amungme tribespeople and other tribespeople here who accepted
\nthe fund.<\/p>\n
"We're concerned the launch of Freeport's trust fund through
\nits second Integrated Development of the Timika Area program will
\ndisturb the harmony of God's congregation here," Gobay said.<\/p>\n
Gobay said Freeport's trust fund this year totaled Rp 22.6
\nbillion (US$8.4 million), down from $15 million last year.<\/p>\n
"Of the amount given last year only half of it was given to
\nthe tribespeople, while the rest was unknown," Gobay claimed.<\/p>\n
Freeport Indonesia is 82 percent owned by Freeport-McMoRan
\nCopper and Gold Inc., an affiliate of American-based Freeport
\nMcMoRan.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government and a private company, PT Indocopper
\nInvestama, own 9 percent each. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trust-fund-could-spark-tribal-warfare-churches-1447893297",
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