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All Parties urged to restrain themselves over the Ridge Camp incident
Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) Press Release - February 22, 2006
Jakarta -- In connection with the conflict between indigenous residents, paramilitary police forces and company security this Tuesday (21 Feb 2006), WALHI appeals for all parties to restrain themselves to avoid further injuries.
This conflict must be seen with a level head in order to avoid acts which might provoke a violent reaction and result in a worsening situation.
This incident stems from the acts of the security apparatus accompanied by the police, which attempted to disperse hundreds of local residents which over the past year have been panning for gold in the river which carries Freeport's mine tailings. This attempt at dispersing local people resulted in a small fracas which escalated into a severe clash. At least three indigenous people have been shot and taken to the Tembagapura hospital. The police and company security side also suffered injuries.
To this moment, the Ridge Camp area near the mountain mine is blockaded by hundreds of indigenous people from the villages located near the mine, and mine production has been stopped.
The residents demand that James Moffet of US company Freeport McMoRan visit the site and negotiate with the indigenous landowners. Residents say they will continue their blockade until Moffet arrives to negotiate.
Freeport is well-known for its association with numerous environmental and human rights abuses at the mine. Environmental destruction caused by the mine has caused the loss of community land and resources and ushered in a reign of terror conducted by the military and paramilitary police forces.
It is precisely this state of affairs which forces the local people to scavenge for discarded gold contained in waste rock and mine tailings.
Freeport stands accused of repeatedly making illegal payments to police and military in exchange for security at the mine. Freeport's accounts show that millions of dollars have been paid key figures in the police and military.
WALHI calls for the commander-in-chief of the military and the chief of police to order their troops not to take steps which may provoke local residents at the mine. WALHI also requests Papuan leaders to visit the site and approach local people in the hope that there be no further victims of violence, whether from the community, the security forces or the company.
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