Press Release National Executive WALHI – WALHI Papua Jakarta – Jayapura The Government of Indonesia has signed the Head of Agreement with Freeport-McMoRan regarding divestment. Apart from the controversial regarding divestment which became one of the negotiation points between the Indonesian government and PT. Freeport-McMoRan / Freeport Indonesia, Freeport's problems must be seen from other aspects of justice and sustainability, not just for the Indonesian government, but for Papuans, especially indigenous peoples and the environment. It is a common knowledge that there is a country within the country in the whole story of mining investments, especially those related to foreign investment in Indonesia. Special policies and facilities such as the use of state security tools in the name of national strategic industries or vital objects of the state. Freeport's problems in Papua are not about trade or the economy alone, there are so many facts of crime committed by PT. Freeport-McMoRan or Freeport Indonesia: violations of the environment and human rights of Papuans. The harm of loss of life, culture, destruction of landscapes and forests of Papua, environmental pollution has not been the basis of calculations in investment stories, all considered to have no value. Director of WALHI Papua, Maurits J Rumbekwan stated that “Freeport is the illustration of wounds for Papuans. Not only economic losses, Indonesians and Papuans have been losing the values of life, culture and the environment that have been destroyed by this giant industry. PT. Freeport improves the environmental damage occurring in customary lands of the Amungme and Kamoro tribes”. “This HoA signing should not be a abolition or forgiveness for various human rights violations that have been committed, until the HoA is signed by the government of Indonesia and PT. Freeport Indonesia. The Government of Indonesia is obliged to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and the environment committed before the HoA is signed, and preventing repetition by stopping various forms of human rights violations," added Khalisah Khalid, Head of WALHI's National Campaign and Network. In addition, PT. Freeport Indonesia must also be subject to the laws and regulations in Indonesia, and the law enforcement must also be done. As it is known that the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) on the implementation of the Contract of Work concerning the use of protected forest areas, the excess disbursement of reclamation guarantee fund, underground mining environmental permit, damage due to waste disposal in the river, post-mining debt obligation decrease in surface due to deep sea mining. The Government of Indonesia, in particular the Ministry of Environment and Forestry should continue to promote law enforcement on findings by Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK). PT. Freeport Indonesia must also comply with the minerals and coal Law, the obligation to change the Contract of Work into Mining Business License. At the end, for more than half century PT. Freeport-McMoran or PT. Freeport Indonesia has dominated Indonesia with its mining investment. Freeport-McMoran shall phase out from Indonesia, and the government of Indonesia shall prepare transitional justice policy for the people of Papua and environment. In the process leading to phase out, the obligations of this company must be met, among others, the restoration of the environment that has been contaminated and destroyed, especially in various countries, the disposal of tailings into the sea, has been banned. In this transition period, the government also has to prepare a new economy for the Papuans, especially indigenous peoples. And firstly, how to stop the use of violence against Papuans 16 July 2018 Contact Person:
- Maurits Rumbekwan, Executive Director of WALHI Papua at 081344524394
- Yuyun Harmono, Climate Justice Campaigner of National Executive WALHI at 081385072648
