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)