Hero's service

Hero's service

From Media Indonesia

I'm a pilot working for a national company. On July 13, I flew to Timika, Irian Jaya on an assignment. We -- two pilots and six cabin crew -- arrived in Timika at 7 a.m. on Sunday. As the plane had to stay in Timika for four days and three nights, we decided to stay at Timika Sheraton Hotel.

The next day the eight of us went to Hero Supermarket in Kuala Kencana, a compound owned by PT Freeport Indonesia, which boasts a golf course in the jungle. Unfortunately, Freeport security guards barred us from entering the supermarket, saying only Freeport employees or those obtaining a permit from Freeport management could go in.

What kind of policy is this. Isn't Hero a public supermarket? The reality is that Indonesians are not allowed entry. Finally, in a fit of anger and frustration, we went to the office of PT Freeport Indonesia. We were met only by a lobby attendant because the manager did not bother to turn up, even after we waited for 30 minutes.

I have been to many places around the world and have never been treated like this, not even in the U.S. or Europe.

DJEKSON PANDEIROT, Jakarta