Irian tribal chief loses legal battle against Freeport
Irian tribal chief loses legal battle against Freeport
JAKARTA (JP): A U.S. district court rejected yesterday a US$6
billion action suit by an Irian tribal chief against PT Freeport
Indonesia and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., charging the
American mining giant with environmental and cultural
destruction.
"This ruling confirms that the lawsuit, filed by a New Orleans
attorney on behalf of Tom Beanal had no basis in law," PT
Freeport Indonesia said in a statement.
On March 12, a Lousiana state court had dismissed an identical
lawsuit filed on behalf of another Irian Jaya tribal leader
Yosefa Alomang.
"Both companies intend to continue its work with the local
people and the government of Indonesia to implement the
government's Integrated Timika Development Plan to meet the needs
of local people in Irian Jaya," the statement said.
Beanal is leader of the Amungme Tribal Council, located near
the company's Irian Jaya mining site in Timika, and an outspoken
critic of the company. Yosefa is also from the same tribe.
With support from the Indonesian Institute for Policy Research
and Advocacy (ELSAM), they filed the lawsuits last year.
The suit claims Freeport was engaged in "eco-terrorism",
"cultural genocide" and corporate policies that led to human
rights violations against tribal people, as well as the
environmental destruction of resources.
The Freeport mine, some 3,000 km (1,870 miles) east of
Jakarta, sits on one of the largest known gold and copper
reserves in the world.
PT Freeport's operations have been plagued by allegations of
human rights violations.
The complaint was filed against Freeport under a federal law
that allows foreigners to sue for violations of international law
in U.S. courts.
The suit alleged that Freeport's security guards "engaged in
summary execution, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture,
disappearances, surveillance and the destruction of property".
PT Freeport Indonesia is 82 percent owned by Freeport-McMoRan
Cooper and Gold Inc., an affiliate of Freeport-McMoRan. The
Indonesian government and a private company, PT Nusamba, own 9
percent each.
The companies promised to remain committed to "working with
all groups and parties for the benefit of the indigenous people
through education, health care, job creation, job training and
infrastructure".
The firms are engaged in mineral exploration and development,
the mining and milling of copper, gold and silver in Irian Jaya.
PT Freeport Indonesia and Freeport-McMoRan plan to build and
operate a smelter and refinery plant in East Java. Currently, the
smelting and refinery are done in Spain. (pan)