Academics criticize Freeport's audit results
Wednesday, March 29 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
A university lecturer said the environmental audit conducted by Montgomery Watson Indonesia (WWI) on PT Freeport Indonesia's activities in Irian Jaya is academically questionable, The Jakarta Post reported.
Oeken S. Abdoellah, head of the Padjadjaran University's Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Research said that WWI did not have supporting data to praise Freeport's environmental protection program.
"MWI concludes the activities are all good, but without supporting data. Some are even totally different from what happened on site," Oeken said.
According to MWI, Freeport has consistently implemented all policies on reclamation and protection of flora and fauna on the Lorentz National Park adjacent to its gold mine in Grasberg area.
But, Oeken said there was no information on the results of the implementation.
He also said the audit reports pertaining to the reclamation along the river and beach where Freeport disposed of 230 tons of waste daily were not comprehensive. (*)