1) Dozens of civilians, personnel killed by armed groups in Papua, police say

2) Freeport gets 1-month permit as divestment expected to end soon

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/07/04/dozens-of-civilians-personnel-killed-by-armed-groups-in-papua-police-say.html

1) Dozens of civilians, personnel killed by armed groups in Papua, police say

Nethy Dharma Somba

Jayapura, Papua | Wed, July 4, 2018 | 11:00 am

Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar (center) speaks during a press briefing on the police’s performance in Jayapura on July 3. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)

Violent attacks committed by armed civilian criminal groups in Papua over the last 10 years have resulted in the deaths of 78 civilians, 57 National Police members and 62 Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel as well as hundreds of injuries, a report revealed on Tuesday.

“Two out of the total 57 personnel were Polri members who were killed while securing regional elections in Torere district, Puncak Jaya. Meanwhile, the 78 civilians included three residents of Kenyam Nduga who were killed one day before the regional elections,” said Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar during a press briefing on the police’s performance in the first half of 2018 in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Boy said 117 civilians suffered injuries during the attacks. “The armed groups’ violent acts are rampant in Pegunungan Tengah areas, such as Puncak Jaya, Nduga, Puncak, Lanny Jaya and Timika."

(Read also: Indonesian forces to blame for Papua killings: Amnesty)

Boy said 18 violent acts were committed by armed civilian criminal groups in Puncak Jaya and Mimika throughout 2018. All violence in Mimika occurred within the working areas of gold mining company Freeport Indonesia. Most of the them were attacks against Freeport vehicles traveling from Timika to Tembagapura and vice versa. “Those violent acts killed several policemen” Boy said.

He said two National Police members – Brig. Sinton Kbarek and Second Insp. Jesayas Nussy – were killed in the recent attack in Torere. They were reported missing shortly after the shooting incident occurred and later found dead.

Sinton was buried at the Waena Hero Cemetery in Jayapura on Tuesday while Jesayas’ body will soon be flown from Memberamo Raya to Jayapura for a burial. (hol/ebf)

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/07/04/freeport-gets-1-month-permit-as-divestment-expected-to-end-soon.html

2) Freeport gets 1-month permit as divestment expected to end soon

Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman

Jakarta | Wed, July 4, 2018 | 12:31 pm

The government approved on Wednesday a one-month special mining permit (IUPK) for PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), the local affiliate of American mining giant Freeport-McMoran, that expires on July 31,  as the government aimed to complete the divestment of  51 percent of PTFI shares in mid-July.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s mineral and coal director general ,Bambang Gatot Ariyono, said in a press briefing on Wednesday that the extension had considered four issues: contract extension, divestment, smelter construction and fiscal and legal certainty for Freeport's planned long-term investment.

"Those issues are close to being settled, but the environmental issues still need to be settled between PTFI and the Environment and Forestry Ministry," he said.

Bambang added that July 31 was also the deadline for the four issues to be settled. 

"Currently, there is a team consisting of the ministry and Freeport settling the environmental issues," he said.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) recently discovered ecological damage blamed on  PTFI mining operations in Papua that had caused Rp 185 trillion (US$12.95 billion) in state losses.

Previously, PTFI spokesperson Riza Pratama said the company had proposed a six-month permit to Jan. 4, 2019. PTFI received its first temporary IUPK in February 2017. The government extended its IUPK for the second time until December 2017. (bbn)

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