1) Soldier shot
by separatists gets state funeral
2)
Freeport, Newmont’s sales slump as export policy begins to bite
3) Police Arrest Head
of Maluku Separatist Group
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1) Soldier shot by separatists gets state funeral
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Sat, April 26 2014, 7:25 PM
The Cendrawasih Military Command honored the late First Sgt. Rahman Hakim with a state funeral at the Kesuma Trikora Heroes Cemetary in Jayapura, Papua on Saturday. The ceremony was led by the Cendrawasih Military Command’s chief of staff Brig. Gen. Hinsa Siburian.
The state funeral was provided because Rahman died in the line of duty, when conducting routine security at the military post in Gurage, Puncak Jaya regency, Papua. Rahman was shot dead, allegedly by a group of separatists, in an ambush on Friday.
“The perpetrators fled the scene as soon as they shot Rahman,” Hinsa said on Saturday.
Rahman was also granted a posthumous promotion from Second Sergeant to First Sergeant.
A civilian, identified as Polang Harahap, was severely injured in the shooting and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The Army has deployed troops to apprehend the attackers. (dic)
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2) Freeport, Newmont’s sales slump as export policy begins to bite
Raras Cahyafitri, The Jakarta Post | Business | Sat, April 26 2014, 12:08 PM
Copper-mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia’s production dropped while another major copper miner PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) was unable to sell its products in the first quarter of this year following the government’s ban on unprocessed-ore exports.
Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., reported that its copper production fell 36 percent in the first three months of the year to 140 million pounds, compared to 219 million pounds in the same period last year.
Gold production also fell but more slightly to 208,000 ounces during the January-to-March period of the year from 212,000 ounces year-on-year.
Low production has squeezed Freeport Indonesia’s sales, as it only sold 109 million pounds of copper and 162,000 ounces of gold during the first quarter of the year, down by almost 45 percent and 15 percent, respectively, from the same period a year earlier.
In a report released on Thursday evening, the company attributed the lower sales to lower milling rates as a result of the restrictions on concentrate exports from Indonesia, which resulted in the deferral of approximately 125 million pounds of copper and 140,000 ounces of gold in the first quarter of 2014.
Freeport Indonesia is expected to resume exports next month to meet its sales target of 0.9 billion pounds of copper and 1.5 million ounces of gold from its Indonesian mines by year-end.
“To the extent Freeport Indonesia is unable to resume exports in May 2014, this will result in a deferral of approximately 50 million pounds of copper and 80,000 ounces of gold per month,” the company said.
As a result of the 2009 Mining Law, the government banned the export of raw ore as of January.
Semi-finished minerals such as concentrates can continue to be exported until 2017 if mining companies are committed to building smelters either on their own or in cooperation with others.
Freeport Indonesia is currently working on a feasibility study to build a copper smelter and has already signed several agreements to supply its concentrates to other smelters to be built by other firms.
NNT has also signed a deal to supply its concentrates to domestic smelters.
Apart from the commitment, concentrates sellers are also required to pay progressive export duties, starting at 20 percent rising to 60 percent by 2016, to resume their exports. The companies have criticized the duties and are seeking reductions.
Earlier this week, the government said that it would consider reducing the duties should companies show progress in smelter development.
The extent of the reductions is currently being formulated and is expected to be announced as early as next week.
NNT, which also released its performance figures on Thursday evening, said it had to stockpile its concentrates because it was unable to export despite increased production. The company said it was unable to export around 2,000 ounces of gold and 2,500 tons of copper as a consequence of the new regulation.
The company produced a total of 8,000 ounces of gold and 10,000 tons of copper at its Batu Hijau site in the January-March period this year, up 14 percent and 11 percent, respectively, from the same period a year ago.
“At this time, operations continue at Batu Hijau. However, to the extent there are continued delays in obtaining approval for 2014 exports, NNT will implement contingency plans to scale back production taking into consideration copper-concentrate storage capacity and in-country smelter availability, which would impact the company’s ability to achieve its outlook,” Newmont said in the report.
Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., reported that its copper production fell 36 percent in the first three months of the year to 140 million pounds, compared to 219 million pounds in the same period last year.
Gold production also fell but more slightly to 208,000 ounces during the January-to-March period of the year from 212,000 ounces year-on-year.
Low production has squeezed Freeport Indonesia’s sales, as it only sold 109 million pounds of copper and 162,000 ounces of gold during the first quarter of the year, down by almost 45 percent and 15 percent, respectively, from the same period a year earlier.
In a report released on Thursday evening, the company attributed the lower sales to lower milling rates as a result of the restrictions on concentrate exports from Indonesia, which resulted in the deferral of approximately 125 million pounds of copper and 140,000 ounces of gold in the first quarter of 2014.
Freeport Indonesia is expected to resume exports next month to meet its sales target of 0.9 billion pounds of copper and 1.5 million ounces of gold from its Indonesian mines by year-end.
“To the extent Freeport Indonesia is unable to resume exports in May 2014, this will result in a deferral of approximately 50 million pounds of copper and 80,000 ounces of gold per month,” the company said.
As a result of the 2009 Mining Law, the government banned the export of raw ore as of January.
Semi-finished minerals such as concentrates can continue to be exported until 2017 if mining companies are committed to building smelters either on their own or in cooperation with others.
Freeport Indonesia is currently working on a feasibility study to build a copper smelter and has already signed several agreements to supply its concentrates to other smelters to be built by other firms.
NNT has also signed a deal to supply its concentrates to domestic smelters.
Apart from the commitment, concentrates sellers are also required to pay progressive export duties, starting at 20 percent rising to 60 percent by 2016, to resume their exports. The companies have criticized the duties and are seeking reductions.
Earlier this week, the government said that it would consider reducing the duties should companies show progress in smelter development.
The extent of the reductions is currently being formulated and is expected to be announced as early as next week.
NNT, which also released its performance figures on Thursday evening, said it had to stockpile its concentrates because it was unable to export despite increased production. The company said it was unable to export around 2,000 ounces of gold and 2,500 tons of copper as a consequence of the new regulation.
The company produced a total of 8,000 ounces of gold and 10,000 tons of copper at its Batu Hijau site in the January-March period this year, up 14 percent and 11 percent, respectively, from the same period a year ago.
“At this time, operations continue at Batu Hijau. However, to the extent there are continued delays in obtaining approval for 2014 exports, NNT will implement contingency plans to scale back production taking into consideration copper-concentrate storage capacity and in-country smelter availability, which would impact the company’s ability to achieve its outlook,” Newmont said in the report.
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3) Police Arrest Head of Maluku Separatist Group
Jakarta. Maluku police on Friday have reportedly arrested Simon Saiya, an activist wanted for masterminding the display of a separatist flag during a performance for the president almost seven years ago.
Simon was arrested with nine companions in Nusaniwe subdistrict, Ambon, and that a South Maluku Republic (RMS) flag called “Benang Raja” as well as two United Nations flags were confiscated as evidence, Sr. Comr. Martuany Siregar — who is the operational unit head of the Maluku police — told state-run Antara news agency.
Simon is transition president of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) and RMS, both of which were established in April 25, 1950 to seek an independent state in Indonesia. The government has called the organizations separatist groups and have arrested activists. Meanwhile, the leaders and a dozen other members sought refuge in the Netherlands.
Simon has been on the national police’s wanted list after allegedly ordering RMS activists to unfurl an RMS flag during the celebration of National Family Day in Ambon on June 29, 2007. The event was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife, ministers, governors and district heads.
In the middle of the event, the RMS activists — who posed as dancers performing the traditional Maluku war dance known as Cakalele — unfurled the flag before Yudhoyono and his entourage.
Police promptly arrested 39 RMS followers after the event, but Simon remained at large. The 39 activists were charged with subversion and their sentences ranged from 12 years to life in prison.
Simon was arrested with nine companions in Nusaniwe subdistrict, Ambon, and that a South Maluku Republic (RMS) flag called “Benang Raja” as well as two United Nations flags were confiscated as evidence, Sr. Comr. Martuany Siregar — who is the operational unit head of the Maluku police — told state-run Antara news agency.
Simon is transition president of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) and RMS, both of which were established in April 25, 1950 to seek an independent state in Indonesia. The government has called the organizations separatist groups and have arrested activists. Meanwhile, the leaders and a dozen other members sought refuge in the Netherlands.
Simon has been on the national police’s wanted list after allegedly ordering RMS activists to unfurl an RMS flag during the celebration of National Family Day in Ambon on June 29, 2007. The event was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife, ministers, governors and district heads.
In the middle of the event, the RMS activists — who posed as dancers performing the traditional Maluku war dance known as Cakalele — unfurled the flag before Yudhoyono and his entourage.
Police promptly arrested 39 RMS followers after the event, but Simon remained at large. The 39 activists were charged with subversion and their sentences ranged from 12 years to life in prison.
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