T

he dispute between PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) and hundreds of its former employees is unlikely to end soon as no deal has been reached between the two parties. In a sign of growing frustration, a workers’ rally led to the outbreak of violence on Saturday.

A mob of striking employees invaded a security post at Check Point 28 near the Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika, Papua. They continued their rally on the main road to the firm, which connects Amamapare Port and Tembagapura. The mob set fire to some of Freeport’s facilities, including the offices of the Gorong-gorong Terminal.

This incident seems to mark an escalation in the months-long protests that began in early May. The workers are protesting the company’s firing and furloughing of 4,100 workers grouped under the Chemical, Energy and Mining Workers’ Union (SPKEP) and the All Indonesia Labor Union (SPSI). The SPKEP now claim that their members are deprived of access to hospitals, schools and banks.

In a letter signed by union leader Sudiro on June 22, the workers demand that PTFI reinstate the workers who lost their jobs due to furloughs and layoffs, refrain from any intimidation of union management and engage in bipartite negotiations.

However, the demands, along with the long-standing strike, have apparently met with a lukewarm response from PTFI, a subsidiary of United States mining giant Freeport McMoRan Inc. The company has stated that the 4,000 or so workers are “deemed to have resigned” because they did not show up to work, Bloomberg reporter earlier this month.

PTFI opened up a hot line number to accommodate reports from its employees on emergency situations or suspicious activity.

“Management is committed to protecting employees and complying with all prevailing regulations. The safety and security of our employees is our priority,” Riza Pratama, the vice president for corporate communications at PTFI, told The Jakarta Post in a text message.

He did not, however, elaborate on further actions the company might take to respond to the protesters.

Following the incident, the Mimika Police upgraded the status of Mimika regency, where the world’s second largest copper mine, PTFI’s Grasberg mine, is located, to the highest security level.

The police precinct head, Adj. Sr. Comr. Victor Mackbon, told the Post on Sunday that the police were still monitoring the situation after the rally and would lower the security level once the situation had returned
to normal.

The police have declared three persons suspects in the incident and are investigating 14 others.

Mimika Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) spokesman Elminus Mom told the Post that the council was aware of the demands of the former employees as they had previously staged a demonstration at the offices of the council.

“We have sent a letter to PT Freeport Indonesia regarding the protest, including Saturday’s rally, and we urge the company to meet with its former employees to hear their aspirations. We are now waiting for the company’s response,” he said.

Separately, Manpower Ministry secretary-general Herry Sudarmanto said Sunday that the ministry was waiting for the results of the ongoing negotiation between PTFI and the region’s manpower agency.

PTFI’s labor problems have attracted the attention of several major labor unions around the world, including branches of the IndustriALL trade union in Australia, the Netherlands, North America and South Africa.

In a recent visit earlier this month, the international union threw its support behind the workers and urged for negotiations to prevent the situation from deteriorating any further.

“This is not just a labour dispute. This is not just a violation of the right to strike. This is a human rights crisis. PT Freeport is attempting to do serious harm to strikers, their families and their communities in order to crush the strike. This cannot continue,” said IndustriALL secretary general Valter Sanches in a statement on its website. (rdi/dis)