Freeport resettles 300 families

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Mining company PT Freeport has resettled 300 tribal families living in its operational areas in Tembagapura, to a settlement area in Timika.

Freeport spokesman Mindo Pangaribuan claimed that the families were relocated because their villages were densely populated.

"Besides, the villages should not be populated because they are located in a mountainous area," Mindo said as quoted by Antara.

He said the resettlement was conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Transmigration, which was also set to resettle transmigrants from Java and Madura to the new resettlement area.

He said that besides building simple houses, Freeport also distributed beds and cooking equipment to the resettled tribal families. (rms)