Tag: Corporate Malfeasance

New NGO in Papua set up to scrutinise investments

JUBI, 4 March 2011

A new NGO, called Lembaga Investasi Proyek Kemanusiaan (LIPK) – the Institute for Humanitarian Investment Projects – has been set up to scrutinise all new companies intending to operate in Papua. The chairman of the NGO is Manase Ugedy Degey.

Degey said: ‘When a new company wants to come here, we will investigate the investments involved to ascertain whether they are beneficial to the people or not and whether they are beneficial to the traditional owners of the land where the company intends to operate.’

He said that the LIPK will not be political but will focus its attention
on new companies intending to invest in Papua. It will focus attention
on helping the development of the communities, he said The company’s obligation shall be regularly scrutinised on the basis of frequent investigations.

‘We will seek to make the communities a part of the policy of the
company in question. This is because many of the companies that are now operating in Papua have been very disruptive for the people.’

He said that the LIPK will work closely together with academics in order
to carry out joint investigations. ‘We intend to publicise the NGO’s
activities in tertiary institutions, in order to conduct investigations
with them.’

According to data gathered by JUBI, the LIPK will focus its attention
on companies wanting to invest in natural resources as well as companies
wanting to invest in human capacity building..This means that it will be
focusing on a wide range of investments, he said.

Companies involved in natural resources will include agriculture,
plantations, irrigation and water management, mining, marine projects,
fishing, industrial projects, and cattle breeding. ‘We will at all times
undertake our investigations on the basis of the likely benefits for the
citizens themselves.’

The LIPK was founded by notary public act in May 2005. It has been set
up in accordance with government regulation No 18/1986.

2

IHRC: Freeport must show respect for Komnas HAM

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





			

		
	
	

					
					



	
 

	


	


	


		
Uranium exploration could harm indigenous population
			

				
Tabloid JUBI, 31 August 2010


Uranium exploration could harm indigenous population


The chairman of the Papuan Customary Council (DAP), Forkorus Yoboisembut is concerned that the explorations into uranium now being conducted by Freeport in the Timika region are failing to take the interests of the indigenous people into account and could result in having a negative impact on their welfare.


These explorations, which have already been under way for  eight months are not transparent. ‘We have made strong representations to the company that these exploration can be harmful to the customary groups,’ he said.


To ensure that the local communities do not have any objections regarding the exploration of uranium, the investors and the government should co-ordinate with the traditional owners (of the land).’ There is a need for transparency  by the investors about how long the explorations will be conducted and what the local communities will receive in payment,’ he said.


The amount of uranium thought to be present in the Freeport mine is far higher than the minimum rate of 83 ppm (parts per million), whereas  the economically viable minimum universally accepted is 1,000 ppm


‘I think that the investors and the government need to be more open towards the local communities about the benefits and disadvantages of the exploration of uranium that is now under way,’ he said.


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