Freeport McMoRan operates this mine in Papua. (AFP Photo)
International giant mining conglomerate, Freeport-McMoran has been mining Gold and Copper in the Province of Papua since 1967.
All of those years, Freeport has caused GREAT DAMAGE to the environment in the province and also taken the ancestral lands of the local Amungme Tribe.
But the Amungme Tribe never give up, so yesterday they submitted a lawsuit with the District Court of South Jakarta, where Freeport's representative office is located, to seek for US$ 32.5 Billion in material (US$ 2.5 billion) and non material damages (US$ 30 Billion)..
The Jakarta Globe quoted the tribe's lawyer Titus Natkime as saying : “ Previously, our lawsuit covered illegal land acquisition, environmental damage and human rights violations. This time, we have broken down our lawsuit and will first focus on land acquisition,” “Next month, we may file new cases of environmental damage and rights violations.”
Meanwhile, Freeport's PR Manager Budiman was quoted as saying “Previous lawsuits against Freeport making similar baseless environmental and human rights claims have been dismissed in both Indonesian and United States courts due to the inability of the plaintiffs to present facts to support their allegations ”.
I hope that this time the Amungme Tribe and their lawyers have sufficient evidences to prove their claims.
7 comments:
Papua has a great natural wealth, but many people live backward. We are concerned with these facts. It is unfortunate if the correct environmental damage in mining Freeport. As the world's giant companies, Freeport, must manage the waste so well. The problem with Amungme to be resolved fairly and wisely.
oh wow!
Freeport is a disgrace. And one of President Suharto's crimes. I wholeheartedly add my hopes to yours.
I hope the indigenous people will win the lawsuit.It's outrageous.
@Herdoni,
As a profit making company it is obvious has been trying their very best to get as much profit at a very low cost. It is the government who gave them license who should always make Freeport to contribute fairly to the people of Papua so their living conditions can be improved.
Beside that the national and local parliament should do their job properly i.e. by making sure that the government is doing ther job.
@DreamChymCidy,
Yeah, WOW! indeed.
@Colson,
Yes, Freeport is a disgrace indeed.
@Umihoney,
Let's hope so. Thank you for your sympathy.
@DoFollow,
Thank you. But I still can's figure out why can't I change from No Follow to Do Follow?
The NZ government wants to allow mining in New Zealand's conservation estates.They have been strongly criticised by the Greens. I totally oppose such moves. They talk about the modern methods of mining, but it is the rubbish that emanates from mining contaminates the environment.
Regards,
peter
@Peter,
It seems that governments are the same, they'll compromise what they have decided earlier, in this case conservation area. What matters to them is what they can achieve today, and do not care much about future effects. Politics!
Post a Comment