2) Statement by Papuan Civil Society on the Visit to West Papua by the Solomon Islands Delegation
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1) Freeport`s Higher Productivity May Result in More Waste
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Freeport Indonesia has started producing copper from its Grasberg block cave underground mine in 2019. The US-based mining company has set a target to produce 240,000 tons of copper ores each day, increasing from last year’s 140,000 tons per day.
However, the increased productivity is expected to raise mining waste or tailings. According to Budi Santoso, the director of the Center for Indonesia Resources Strategic Studies, such waste is a consequence that cannot be avoided.
“An increase in production will eventually lead to the rising volume of waste,” said Budi on Tuesday, May 8.
Furthermore, Budi said that the copper content that will be mined in this location is only 2 or 3 percent per ton. Based on that initial calculation, Freeport’s underground mine production will reach 233,000 tons per day. The mine currently produces 240,000 tons of waste each day.
Budi urged Freeport to renew its environmental permit to improve its waste management. The company’s mine tailings are currently being flowed from the Aghawagon River to the Otomona River, which reaches its final destination at the Ajkwa Deposition Area. Budi claims that the river can no longer accommodate the ever increasing waste volume.
Freeport has actually proposed changes in its waste management in the 2015 environmental evaluation document. A year later, the company applies for a revision to the environmental impact assessment.
However, before the permit was officially granted, Freeport expanded its deposition area from 230 square meters to 450 square meters in 2015. This move that was considered illegal was questioned during the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) examination last year, as BPK auditors saw that Freeport’s mine tailings had overflowed to land areas, river, up to the ocean. The BPK concluded that it is caused by an improper pool shelter.
However, Freeport McMoran CEO said that the company was forced to expand its pool shelter since the permit issuance was sluggish.
ROBBY IRFANI
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2) Statement by Papuan Civil Society on the Visit to West Papua by the Solomon Islands Delegation
Members of The Solomon Islands Delegation posing with caretaking Papua governor in his office (24/3/2018)
Dear Sirs/Madams,We, West Papua civil society, consisting of people from Non-Government Organisations, yout h, students, women, and indigenous peoples, welcome the government and civil society delegates from the Solomon Islands to our country, West Papua. We sincerely apologise that because weare not free to express ourselves in the land of our ancestors we cannot welcome you well and honorably as Melanesian relatives. To be honest we just heard about this visit. We did not expect this visit would be arranged secretly and unilaterally by the government of Indonesia through its foreign ministry. We deeply regret that the government of Indonesia did not officially notify the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, a fellow Melanesian Spearhead Group member, of the planned visit. This visit also reminds us of a similar visit led by the former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Mr Gordon Lilo in 2014, which was organised silently by the Indonesian government and military without any involvement or connection to civil society. We therefore, question the intent and purpose of this visit.
We, civil society of West Papua, express our support to the ULMWP as the organisation who represents our political aspirations and is advocating for West Papuans’ right to selfdetermination, which has been denied by the Indonesian government and international community for over 50 years. We insist that the government of Indonesia and other states respect that right.
We wish to emphasize that since West Papua has been forced into shackles through the 1969 Act of NO Choice, there have been human rights violations, forced seizure of Indigenous lands for large mines, oil, gas, and oil palm plantations, transmigration programs and mega agriculture projects, all in the name of development. All these have harmed the people of West Papua, by creating conflict, depriving us of our land and ability to manage our own resources, and human rights violations. The presence of the Indonesian military and police has disrupted the lives of our people causing havoc and gross violence all for the sake of foreign investment and capitalist’ interests. The flow of population from outside West Papua is increasing and our people are becoming a minority and marginalized. Therefore, we fully ask all parties to respect the rights of the West Papuan people to self-determination. We ask this for the sake of the survival of the Melanesian people in West Papua, your family.
We hope that during this short visit, the Solomon Island government delegation can see, hear and experience firsthand, the reality of the Melanesian people in the land of West Papua. That is our statement, yours sincerely, the undersigned civil society community of West Papua.
Jayapura, 24 April 2018,
1. Forum Independen Mahasiswa (FIM)
2. Solidaritas Nasional Mahasiswa dan Pemuda Papua (SONAMAPA)
3. Parlemen Jalanan (PARJAL)
4. Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pegunungan Tengah Papua se-Indonesia (AMPTPI)
5. Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB)
6. Elsham Papua
7. Gabah Papua
8. Kolektif Perempuan Papua
9. Garda Papua
10. Dewan Adat Papua
2. Solidaritas Nasional Mahasiswa dan Pemuda Papua (SONAMAPA)
3. Parlemen Jalanan (PARJAL)
4. Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pegunungan Tengah Papua se-Indonesia (AMPTPI)
5. Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB)
6. Elsham Papua
7. Gabah Papua
8. Kolektif Perempuan Papua
9. Garda Papua
10. Dewan Adat Papua
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