Freeport not involved in Timika case: Rights body

Freeport not involved in Timika case: Rights body

JAKARTA (JP): Not one witness of the alleged murder, torture
or disappearance of civilians in Timika, Irian Jaya, mentioned
any involvement by PT Freeport, a giant American mining company,
the National Commission on Human Rights said over the weekend.

"None of the 23 witnesses we interviewed said that the mining
company was involved in the human rights abuses in Timika,"
Clementino dos Reis Amaral, a member of the commission, told The
Jakarta Post.

The commission set up the team to investigate the alleged
murder of 17 civilians. It is alleged that 25 people were also
tortured and four had disappeared around Timika in the Fak-Fak
regency of Irian Jaya.

The news was first reported by non-governmental organizations
and the Australian Council for Overseas Aid. According to
reports, members of the Armed Forces arrested and killed
indigenous Irianese protesting against the expansion of PT
Freeport.

Amaral, as well as commission members Marzuki Darusman, Djoko
Sugianto and Soegiri, went to Timika to get first-hand
information about the case last Tuesday.

Earlier this month, five non-governmental organizations filed
their own investigative report to the commission. They say that
the authorities had abused villagers opposed to the activities of
the American copper mining company.

Report

The NGOs stated in their report that PT Freeport was
responsible for the incidents. They recounted that locals had
protested the company's right to mine the land since 1975.

The NGOs said that 70 soldiers guard the company, which
provides them with facilities. The say the soldiers tortured the
locals on company property, making it responsible for the
violation.

"Without undermining the meaning of economic development by PT
Freeport investment, we urge the government to stop the killing,
intimidation and labeling of the people as rebels," the statement
said.

The pledge came four months after the first report about a
series of clashes between the military and the local people early
this year.

The earlier report, written by the Australian Council for
Overseas Aid, was sent to the Indonesian Conference of Church
Elders in Jakarta by Jayapura Bishop Munninghof.

Munninghof said that while the contents of the report were yet
to be confirmed, the church and the commission must pay serious
attention to the matter. The military previously denied all
charges.

Amaral said he was convinced the people's statements were true
because they were not afraid to specify local authorities as
being involved.

"But none of them said that PT Freeport was involved in the
case," he said

Amaral said he had asked the local authorities to protect the
witnesses. He said the authorities agreed to the request.

The result of the investigation will only be revealed after
the commission completes a second investigation, he said

"The new investigative team will leave for Timika at the end
of this month to interview some key persons and confirm the first
investigation," Amaral explained.

Amaral said the Army was posted in Irian jaya to quell
separatist movements in the region.

He refused to say whether any victims were members or
sympathizers of a separatist movement.

"We will re-check that in the coming investigation," he
promised, adding that 85 percent of the confirmation was already
in his hands. (03)