TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papua Customary Council (Dewan Adat Papua) chairman Meepago John Gobai wants Papuan indigenous people to be involved in contract discussion between Freeport and the government. According to him, both have never asked locals to join in the discussion.
John said that the government ought not to be acting arrogantly and Freeport should open up. “Locals in Papua are waiting to [join] the discussion,” he said at Jakarta-based human rights group Imparsial on Sunday, March 5, 2017.
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According to John, changes to Freeport’s contract will result in widespread impacts because its corporate social responsibility (CSR) has helped locals to improve their well-being. “The company’s CSR has helped pay [Papuan] kids’ school tuition fees. If they go home [stop going to school], clashes will break out again. Would the government assume responsibility for it?”
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The Indonesian government is facing a deadlock on PT Freeport Indonesia’s contract extension that will end in 2021. The local unit of U.S.-based mining company Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has threatened to take Indonesia to international arbitration if no agreement was reached.
Papua indigenous leader Thaha Al-Hamid said that locals who would get affected by the contract must be involved in the discussion. “There is no other choice than to involve the people because it’s a valuable item,” he said.
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He has expressed his support for the government to acquire PT. Freeport Indonesia’s stake.
ARKHELAUS W.