Freeport's never-ending story
Responding to the letters sent to The Jakarta Post accusing and defending PT Freeport Indonesia, I would like to say the issue actually is not whether there is an environmental catastrophe, but indeed the issue is the "never-ending dispute". Every party wants to take advantage of Gresberg's gold riches. It is like the old western movies in the U.S.
If you happen to be in the jungles of Irian Jaya, especially in the remote areas, please ask the Irianese: Who is the most popular person in the world, and who is lurah (village chief), camat (district chief), bupati (regent), governor or president? The answer, which you will probably not expect and which will likely shock you, will either be Mr. Bruce E. Marsh or Mr. John Cutts, both from Freeport.
Another funny thing is the response of the people to government officials if they and Freeport representatives pay a visit on the locals together. The Irianese applaud the Freeport people and boo the government officials.
I was well acquainted with Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cutts when I worked for Freeport for nearly four years. In the middle of the mountainous jungles, under extremely poor weather conditions and at an altitude of anywhere from between 7,000 and 14,000 feet, they were not hesitant to spend time with and sometimes spend the night with locals in their traditional Honai houses. They patiently talked and listened to the people, ate the same food and drank the same water.
During my four years working with freeport, I worked very close with these two men. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cutts taught me very valuable lessons about people, especially the Irianese. They broadened my mind as nobody else ever had. In fact, Mr. Marsh had a lot of ideas about developing Irian Jaya and solving the tailing problem environmentally and socially. But like myself, I often saw him very frustrated with his job. His programs could not run as he had hoped. Probably, this was the reason why he quit Freeport and worked in Arizona for one year. Other good people who were frustrated with Freeport's management also left the company.
I agree with Mr. Marsh that there are many good people at Freeport, and he also must agree that too much politics is involved in Freeport's management. When government officials visit the operational area, they are extremely hesitant to spend time with the locals. They prefer helicopter tours of Tembagapura, rather than talking to the locals. When it is time to go home, they usually ask for a nice souvenir. No official ever came away from their visit with a solid solution to the environmental and social problems facing the area and residents around Freeport's operations.
We all know Freeport's original contract of work was made with a corrupt and repressive regime. This might be the reason why Mr. Andrew Trigg said the regime "would have sold the country's soul if it would mean an extra zillion bucks in its own pocket".
We are all aware that we made mistakes, particularly in the past, and now we are brave enough to say what is good and what is bad. With our new legitimate government, good people like Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cutts from Freeport, the legislators and the Irianese should sit down together to discuss and try to find a solution to their disputes, and a new policy and system for the mining industry that would please all people and parties, and which sooner or later would be implemented.
PARLINDUNGAN SIBARANI
Jakarta