Trust fund could spark tribal warfare: Churches

JAKARTA (JP): Leading church groups in Irian Jaya warned yesterday the disbursement of a trust fund designed to help local tribes could spark tensions on tribal warfare.

In a joint statement, three leading churches in the area -- the Kemah Injil Indonesia, Tiga Raja Catholic Church, and Kristen Injil Indonesia -- rejected the second phase disbursement of the funds and urged the government and mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia to reevaluate the disbursement's first phase.

They warned the disbursement could generate social jealousies and spark conflict among tribes in the Timika area.

PT Freeport Indonesia operates a mine in Timika, one of the world's largest known gold and copper reserves.

After a series of unrest, the company last year committed 1 percent of its annual earning to a trust fund aimed at aiding the development of tribes in the area.

The church groups yesterday claimed the disbursement of the first phase of the trust fund ignored the Amungme and Komoro tribes, two tribes whom they said were most eligible.

They urged the government and PT Freeport to hold a dialog with the Amungme and Komoro tribes, "whose resources have been occupied and exploited by PT FIC (Freeport Indonesia Company) in accordance with the COW (Contract of Work)".

"If the government and PT Freeport do not heed our suggestions... the churches won't intervene should something happen," the statement read.

If the problem was not immediately addressed it could result in tribal war, Father Nato Gobay of the Catholic church told The Jakarta Post.

Twelve people were killed in last year's tribal war between the Amungme tribespeople and other tribespeople here who accepted the fund.

"We're concerned the launch of Freeport's trust fund through its second Integrated Development of the Timika Area program will disturb the harmony of God's congregation here," Gobay said.

Gobay said Freeport's trust fund this year totaled Rp 22.6 billion (US$8.4 million), down from $15 million last year.

"Of the amount given last year only half of it was given to the tribespeople, while the rest was unknown," Gobay claimed.

Freeport Indonesia is 82 percent owned by Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., an affiliate of American-based Freeport McMoRan.

The Indonesian government and a private company, PT Indocopper Investama, own 9 percent each. (aan)