Walhi Demands A Halt To Freeport Mine Operations
October 11, 2003
Walhi Demands A Halt To Freeport Mine Operations
Friends of the Earth Indonesia, (WALHI) demands the government halt operations
at the Grasberg mine (known as Freeport¹) following a disastrous landslide
on Thursday morning 9 October 2003. The Grasberg mine in West Papua is
jointly owned by USA-based Freeport McMoran and UK/Australian mining company
Rio Tinto Ltd.
"This event proves Freeport is not competent to handle the current high
level of mining production. The government must immediately enforce a
reduction in the Freeport production capacity" said Mr. Longgena Ginting,
National Director of Friends of the Earth Indonesia (WALHI).
In 1997, the Indonesian government approved a request from Freeport to
raise production capacity to 300 000 tons of ore per day. The increase
in production capacity was funded in large part by Rio Tinto Ltd, in return
for a share in the increased mine profits. Even at the lower production
level, Freeports operations had resulted in huge environmental impacts.
Destruction caused by the Freeport mining operation covers a vast area
from the 4 000 meter high mountaintop all the way down to the coast and
the Arafura Sea to Australias north.
Freeport Mining Indonesia always claims that various disasters which have
occurred in its area of operations are the tragic result of natural events,
such as the landslide of waste rocks at Lake Wanagon in 2000, which killed
4 of Freeports subcontract workers. In fact, Freeport is well aware of
the risk of its operation in an area with high rainfall and seismic activity,
nevertheless this has not prevented the company from raising production
capacity in the scramble for maximum profits.
"Now is the time for the House of Representatives to pressure the government
to conduct a review of all mining contracts and improve the mining licensing
system which up until now has given absolute rights to mining companies
at the expense of the public" continued Longgena Ginting.
The government is also obliged to demand absolute responsibility from
companies, based on the principle of strict liability as set out in Environment
Management Law No.23 (1997), and must both compel the company to immediately
repair environmental damage and demand responsibility from company executives
for the disastrous loss of life.
For more information contact:
Longgena Ginting
Ph: (+62 (0) 811 927 038)
Nur Hidayati
Ph: (+62 (0) 21- 794 1672)
Note:
In year 2000, WALHI filed a lawsuit against Freeport for not giving correct
and accurate information about the incident in Lake Wanagon which had
caused 4 casualties. The first-tier court found Freeport guilty as charge.
The case is now on the National Supreme Court.