Freeport still searching for missing people
Freeport still searching for missing people
JAKARTA (JP): A rescue team has yet to find the bodies of four
people reported missing after the Wanagon basin collapsed last
week, a company official said here on Thursday.
"We cannot say if they were killed in the incident, and our
rescue team, supported by local police officers, is still
searching for them," Mindo Pangaribuan, manager of External
Communications, said.
He stated that the rescue team had located camps, bags and
other items believed to belong to the four.
Mindo identified them as Conny Maay, 43, Dace Adera, 25, Yepta
Purai, 30 and Marthin Palamba.
They are employees of PT Graha Buana Jaya, contractor to PT
Freeport Indonesia.
"Appropriate steps, including contacting the relatives and
families of the missing employees, have been taken by the
contractor and Freeport, Mindo said, adding that Dace and Yepta
came from southeast Maluku, Marthin from Toraja, South Sulawesi,
and Conny from Serui, Irian.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives called on all parties,
especially the Papuan people, to be patient while a government
team looks into the incident.
"Various statements on actions to be taken against the company
are not necessary," M. Yamin, deputy chairman of the House's
Commission on industry and trade, said Thursday.
He said his commission would hold an intensive discussion with
the government and Freeport's management and make a fair
evaluation of the company's performance.
According to the Commission, Freeport's newly extended
contract could be revised if the new company is found guilty and
if its presence in Papua does not benefit the locals.
In Jayapura, the provincial council said on Tuesday that
Freeport must be held responsible for the Wanagon incident.
"The company must be held accountable for the destruction of
the environment as well as disturbances experienced by the local
Amungme tribe living in the vicinity," councillor Anton
Kelanangame said.
The council will send a team of three legislators to
investigate the case as well as gather information from locals,
he said.
Locals have long protested against waste dumping in the river
which has caused flooding, he said. "But their complaints have
been ignored."
Three people were admitted to the clinic at the Freeport
compound. They were Sulaeman Mochtar, 21, Yanto Metubun, 35, and
Yoas Lepong Bulan, 21.
Locals of the Amungme tribe also strongly called on the
company to be responsible for the damage caused by the waste
dumping in the Wanagon basin.
"Because of the dumping, the Wanagon lake has reached it
capacity and this is why flooding occurs." (eba/edt/rms/sur)