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Papuan students calls for closure of Freeport
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Standing for rights: Papuan students call for the closure of US-based giant gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia in a rally in front of the Papua Legislative Council on March 20. (Courtesy of Piet Hein/File)
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undreds of people grouped under the United Students Front for Freeport Closure staged a rally in front of the Papua Legislative Council and called for the closure of United States-based giant gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, which has operated in Papua for 50 years.
They said the mining company was the main cause of rampant human rights abuses in the region.
“The presence of Freeport in Papua does not bring prosperity but instead has caused sufferings, poverty and massive human rights violations on this land,” said activist Pilipus Rubaha on Monday.
Protesters also distributed pamphlets detailing their demands, including the withdrawal of Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police personnel from Papua given rampant shooting incidents allegedly committed by security forces against civilians.
Among the incidents include the shooting of five students in Enarotali, Paniai, on April 8, 2014, and security operations conducted by police and military personnel in Kampung Utikini.
Papua Police Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said the call for the closure was unilateral, with workers of the mining company expecting operations to continue.
He said the protesters’ demand for the government to pull out police and military personnel from Papua was also baseless.
Military District Command (Kodam) XVII/Cendrawasih commander Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian said demanding the withdrawal of TNI and police was illogical. “Why did they [protesters] demand the withdrawal of TNI/police from Papua? The presence of TNI and police in any part of Indonesia is based on the mandate of the Constitution.” (ebf)
