Experience in Busang

Experience in Busang

I would like to recount my experience in Busang, Kutai
regency, East Kalimantan on March 8. I would also like to respond
to the news that I and two Australian journalists and one
Manuntung daily journalist were terrorized by employees of PT
WAM. The culprits were actually employed by Bre-X.

Our taxi from the Long Tesak wharf was stopped after some 15
kilometers by four security men and the personnel head of Bre-X.
They asked us not to continue our journey. It was agreed that the
Australians would be permitted to enter the mining site for
discussions with the Bre-X manager.

Bre-X then rescinded on the agreement without a clear reason.
The car was stopped again at kilometer 23. We tried to continue
our trip but were faced with physical threats.

Bre-X personnel head Idris and security coordinator Antonius
threatened to take physical action against us if we continued our
journey.

"Why should we let our plate of rice be upset? It is better to
confront you. If you persist, you will all go home crippled,"
said Antonius pushing me.

Although in the end we retreated, they continued to terrorize
us at the Long Tesak wharf. A Bre-X employee Junaedi asked us to
immediately leave Long Tesak, branding a sickle behind his belt.
He swore to kill us if we dared to return to Long Tesak.

I would strongly like to protest Bre-X's behavior. Our group
did not intend to visit the Bre-X camp but PT WAH. We had
obtained verbal permission from Jusuf Merukh and Bob Hasan in
Jakarta.

ANDI M. ASRUN

Jakarta