Evaluation of Freeport mining contract must involve the Papua people

The government plans to form a fact finding team to evaluate on whether the giant gold mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia has violated its contract of work must involve the active participation of the Irian Jaya (Papua) people, according to an non-governmental organization (NGO) focusing on Irian Jaya issues.

"If the government plans to evaluate the contract of PT Freeport Indonesia, it must involve the active participation of the Papua people particularly whose land had been used as the mining exploration and exploitation site," said Wolas Krenak, coordinator of the Sabang-Merauke Discussion Forum.

Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo B. Yudhoyono said earlier this week that the government plans to form a fact finding team which include officials from related ministries to evaluate on whether Freeport had breached its mining contract of work.

There's been accusation that Freeport has neglected the local environment and the local people.

Meanwhile, head of the House of Representatives commission VIII on mining and energy Irwan Prayitno said that the House must also be involved in the government-sponsored fact finding team to ensure objectivity of the team.(*)