Officials make use of media

Officials make use of media

From Koran Tempo

I was astonished to read a news story titled Government warns Freeport and learn that Director General for Geological and Mineral Resources Wimpie S. Tjejep apparently sent a letter of warning to PT Freeport Indonesia in regard to environmental matters. Yet, the president director of PT Freeport Indonesia Adrianto Machribie reportedly has not received such a letter.

Isn't it strange to learn that a government senior official claims to have sent a letter to Freeport but that Freeport president director denies ever receiving it? If we read the news carefully, it can be surmised that Freeport president director is telling the truth as the director general has not explained when the letter was sent and has not shown a letter of receipt from Freeport. Had Wimpie mentioned them, Freeport would certainly not be able to deny it.

I, and perhaps other readers, may conclude that the director general has made use of the mass media to attract attention and to rebuke Freeport. Perhaps the director general expected someone from Freeport to contact him, and then only God knows what would have happened.

Another strange thing is that the Directorate General of Geological and Mineral resources has not paid any attention to some mining companies whose contracts are expiring, such as PT Kellian Equatorial Mining and PT Newmont Minahasa Raya. As far as I know, the director general has yet to make a statement about it as the closing down of a mine is clearly a crucial matter that needs serious attention from senior government officials such as the director general for geological and mineral resources. In the absence of this attention, I fear these mining companies will quite easily refuse to account for their actions.

MRS. DIAN TANIA

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