Freeport should at least be morally responsible: NGO

JAKARTA (JP): A non-governmental organization said yesterday that the giant American mining company, PT Freeport Indonesia Company, is still responsible for the alleged deaths of a number of people in Timika, Irian Jaya, near its mining operation.

"Freeport is at least morally responsible for the human rights violations (in Timika) because the violations took place in the company's compound," Karel Phil Erari, a member of the National Forum Against Human Rights Violations in Irian Jaya, told journalists at the office of The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) yesterday.

"One thing is certain, the killing and torture were committed at Freeport's sites, containers and buses", he said. "They must have known that, but they failed to take any action".

Karel said the forum was established on Wednesday to end what its founders described as 30 years of violence in Irian Jaya.

The forum said many Irianese have become victims of a combination of modernization and suppression.

The allegations that many people in Timika have been killed have prompted the National Commission on Human Rights to launch an investigation.

The Armed Forces has also been investigating the reports but pointed out that Irian Jaya is still beset by insurgencies launched by the Free Papua Movement (OPM), which is seeking a separatist state for Irian Jaya.

Freeport's representatives in Jakarta have denied any role in the violence that allegedly took place in Timika.

A number of Indonesian non-governmental organizations said that at least 17 civilians have been killed and that scores of others have disappeared in clashes between troopers and local people. They pointed their finger at the military.

The forum yesterday called for an objective investigation by the National Commission on Human Rights.

The Trikora Military Command, which oversees security in Irian Jaya and Maluku, has confirmed that there was one clash in Timika pitting troopers and separatist rebels.

Trikora Command Chief Maj. Gen. I Ketut Wirdhana said that the rebels put up a fight as they hoisted their flag. "Our soldiers had to shoot them," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Ambon, the capital of Maluku.

Ketut declined to comment further on the incident, saying that the case is now under investigation by the Army.

He said soldiers were human and therefore were prone to mistakes. But "if it turned out that some of my members have made mistakes, there will be actions against them in accordance with the law," he said.

He appealed for calm from the public to allow the investigation to proceed smoothly. "I think it is wiser if we restrain ourselves and do not heighten the differences that have developed over this issue," he said.

On the strength of the separatist group in Irian Jaya, Ketut said it was still quite large but it had been significantly weakened in terms of its weaponry. (03/emb)