Press Release by the Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHRC)
A forum which was to be mediated by the National Human Rights Commission - Komnas HAM - involving four customary clans which form part of the Amungme people, along with the copper-and-gold company Freeport, which should have taken place on 18-19 October 2010 could not take place as planned because Freeport showed ill-will towards the event and said that it would not attend. The company simply sent the convenors a letter on 18 October suggesting that the event should be postponed till 15 November 2010. At a meeting which took place on 19 October, Freeport only sent members of their staff, so Komnas HAM decided to re-schedule the mediation forum till 27 October at 9am, at its office. In view of these developments, the IHRC wishes to state the following: Freeport has shown disrespect and ill-will towards an institution of the Indonesian Republic, namely Komnas HAM, as well as disrespect for the legal system of this country. Freeport has shown ill-will and disrespect for the dignity of the elders of the Amungme and Kamoro people and towards the directors of Lemasa and Lemasko, the bodies that represent those who hold customary rights over the land that is being used by Freeport. Komnas HAM should act seriously and speedily in its efforts to resolve the dispute between Freeport and the Amungme and Kamoro people by convening a Mediation Forum on 26 October to be attended by the leadership of Freeport and the leadership of Komnas HAM, in order to be able to reach a peaceful, democratic and dignified resolution that ensures justice for the victims. If the mediation forum on 26 October is a failure, the Amungme people who live in mountains and the Kamoro people who live along the coast will organise a peaceful mass action which will take the form of a boycott of all the products of Freeport. Jakarta, 26 Octoebr 2010 Executive Committee of IHCS Gunawan, Secretary-General Ecoline Situmorang, Chairperson
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