Timika tense over trust fund

Timika tense over trust fund

JAKARTA (JP): Harapan Kwamki Lama village in Timika, Irian
Jaya, was tense yesterday as tribal leaders were at odds over a
share of the trust fund given by PT Freeport Indonesia Company.

Armed with spears, arrows, machetes and axes, around 70
supporters of Musa Janampa -- a Moni leader of the Suhonabu
foundation -- ran noisily around the village shouting out their
demand that another Moni leader, Fidelis Zonggonau of the Yapemo
foundation, split the Rp 2.3 billion (US$800,000) with them.

Church sources said no direct confrontations occurred but
local authorities and military personnel were on high alert. At
certain moments supporters seemed ready for a physical clash.

Leading church groups in Timika rejected in a statement last
week the trust fund and warned they would not intervene should
something happen regarding its disbursement.

None of PT Freeport's personnel were seen at the location,
church sources said.

The giant mining company had set up a trust fund in which they
would allocate one percent of their earnings for the development
of tribes in the region.

Church groups claimed, however, that the first phase of
disbursement earlier this year neglected several tribes who were
entitled to it.

Janampa and his supporters -- representing four clans of
Sugapa, Homeo, Bugalaga, Nabia -- threatened to kill Fidelis if
they were not given a share of the money disbursed to him.

Fidelis' foundation was identified by the government as one of
those entitled to a share of the trust fund, a claim rejected by
Janampa. (aan)