LPMAK should give more examples, rather than just a word
Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - PT Freeport Indonesia expressed its commitment to continue supporting the Kamoro Amungme Community Development Institute (LPMAK) in implementing the local community development program in the mining area in Mimika district, Papua province, a spokesman said here, Monday.

"PT Freeport does not have a different pattern in developing the society, and continued supporting LPMAK to become more mature and independent in community development," representative of PT Freeport Cornelles Yom said.

Therefore, he asked LPMAK to continue forging partnership with other agencies in the development of Kamoro and Amungme community and other five family tribes in Mimika.

"LPMAK should give more examples, rather than just a word," Cornelles said.

Meanwhile, a member of the LPMAK management, Mathias Katagame expressed appreciation to all LPMAK employees for their hard work.

According to Matias, from 1996 to 2000, the institution that manages partnership funds from PT Freeport Indonesia had twice changed its name into Integrated Timika Area Development (PWT2) and Irian Jaya Community Development Institute (LPM-Irja).

Eventually in 2002 it established a new institution called LPMAK.

"We hope LPMAK could become a professional institution to promote the area and develop other programs that have not touched the needs of the local people because the community thought LPMAK can not do much," Mathias said.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of LPMAK, Emanuel Kemong said, the 15th anniversary of LPMAK on 13 April 2011 shown had developed into adolescence and adulthood.

In order for LPMAK to meet the expectations of the community, he asked the employees to work hard.

According to Emanuel, the LPMAK Expo 2011 held from Thursday (14/4) until Friday (15/4) and participated by the related agencies of LPMAK showed that the employees had done much for the local people.

The successful LPMAK economic program is able to bring a number of local economic actors able to compete with those from outside Papua.

While in education it produced qualified human resources as doctors, pilots and the other highly skilled people.

He also added that currently the relevant bureaus at LPMAK continued to promote partnership with professional institutions of local, national as well as international levels such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in lowland rice farming programs in Aramsolki Agimuga and fisheries in Mimika coastal areas.

"A we made breakthroughs in making LPMAK independent in the program, institutions and funds. Through continuous support from traditional institutions, churches, government and especially PT Freeport as donor, we hope LPMAK would become better in the future," Emanuel noted.

In commemorating the 15 years of partnership in Freeport funding, LPMAK gave awards to a dozen of members of the board , officials and employees who had served at least five years and eight awards for outstanding employees in 2010.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011