No more subsidy for Baliem farmers

No more subsidy for Baliem farmers

JAYAPURA: PT Freeport Indonesia has finally decided to stop
its air transportation subsidy for the Baliem vegetable farmers
in Jayawijaya.

In a letter to the Jayawijaya regent J.P. Wenas dated April 9,
1997, PT Freeport Vice President and Senior Advisor in Kuala
Kencana, Timika, Charles E. White, said the stoppage would be
effective in May this year.

The stoppage was due to financial reasons. Since April 1, 1997
vegetables have been supplied to Freeport staffers by PT
Pangansari Utama Food Industry owned by tycoon Mohamad (Bob)
Hasan, Antara reported yesterday.

Freeport, through its purchasing department, had bought the
Jayawijaya farmers commodity and transported it from Wamena to
Jayapura by chartered aircraft belonging to Air Fast.

The copper mining giant had spent Rp 1 billion (US$480,000)
per year for this, Antara reported. The policies were meant to
help Jayawijaya farmers, whose farming land is now used for
mining. (sur)