After the occurrence of the 3-month Freeport workers` strike in 2011, the Freeport management should establish closer relations with local community figures, an Amungme tribal leader, Andreas Anggaibak, saidTimika, Papua (ANTARA News) - Newly-appointed president director of PT Freeport Indonesia, Rozik B Soetjipto, should embrace Amungme and Kamoro tribal community figures living around the company`s mining area in Timika, an Amungme tribal leader, Andreas Anggaibak, said here Monday.
He said after the occurrence of the 3-month Freeport workers` strike in 2011. the Freeport management should establish closer relations with local community figures.
"If necessary, we will form an independent team consisting of neutral people to assist Freeport. The protracted workers` strike in 2011 should be an important lesson for Freeport," Anggaibak added.
He said so far, PT Freeport was inclined to have more trust in in the police and military to keep its mining operations safe while local community figures were only used as "fire extinguishers." This condition had often disappointed the local people.
"They should know who owns this country, who owns the land and the mountains. Freeport should have closer relations with local community figures and listen to the grassroots` aspirations, " said Anggaibak, who was chairman of Mimika district`s regional legislative council in the period 1999-2004.
He said , if Freeport could approach the local community figures especially those from the Amungme and Kamoro tribes who have rights to the Freeport mining area, then all problems in the company`s environment could be anticipated properly.
Anggaibak said indigenous people living around the company`s mining area do know who was behind the deadly shooting incidents that happened recently in Freeport`s concession area. But they were reluctant to disclose it to the public.
"Natives living around the Freeport concession area know who created all the mischief in the jungles but they do not want to speak up," he said.
He said the solution of all the problems that had occurred to PT Freeport was by doing something for the welfare of the indigenous people around the mining area.
"If Freeport wants to be safe then please pay attention to the indigenous people. Freeport must not close their eyes to the lives of the indigenous people. Security is important but the people living around the Freeport mine which are the customary owners of all the natural riches that have been exploited by Freeport should receive more attention from Freeport," Anggaibak said.
On Friday (27/1) PT Freeport announced the appointment of Rozik B Soetjipto as the company`s president director replacing Armando Mahler. The appointment of Rozik Soetjipto was meant to strengthen the company`s relationships with the stakeholders.
Rozik will be assisted by an executive committee headed by the chief executive of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold ,Richard Adkerson. The President Director who serves at this time, Armando Mahler would be a senior adviser in the executive committee.
"The new management organization allows us to renew our commitment in operating the Grasberg mine safely, efficiently and world-class in order to be useful for our employees, local communities and Indonesia as well as increase the representation of the company with the Indonesian government and other stakeholders in Jakarta," Rozik said.
In the environmental management of PT Freeport Indonesia Rozik Soetjipto was not a new figure. The graduate of Mining Engineering from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) which also titled doctorate degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Belgium was previously occupied the position in the Board of Commissioners of PT Freeport Indonesia since 2000.
Rozik also held various senior positions for several years at the Department of Mining and Energy including as the Director General of Mining during 1998-1999. In 1999-2000 Rozik Soetjipto was a Minister of Public Works.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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