Jayapura – Trikora military commander Major-General Mahidin Simbolon had strongly denied rumours (the word he used was 'rumor') that the armed forces has received US$5.6 million from PT. Freeport for guarding the mining company's operations.

He said troops were living in poor conditions. "If I got all that money, I would build a grand hotel and special barracks for the troops," he said. He said his men were only paid Rp 125,000 a month, while Papua Post reports that some soldiers are receiving as little as Rp 90,000 a month, paid by Freeport.

Simbolon said Freeport should put out a statement about the matter, to end this constant sniping at the armed forces. He confirmed that the number of TNI posts had been increased in the vicinity of the Freeport copper and gold mine, following the shooting incident last August, but said this was quite legitimate because Freeport is a "vital national enterprise".

But he said that although the number of command posts has been increased, the number of troops has remained the same. They consist of a Kostrad battalion of 450 men, plus a Brimob (special police corps) company, a special Paskhas platoon, a marines platoon on duty in the harbour and a cavalery platoon, as well as a team of snipers from Kopassus, although he added that these Kopassus troops had been withdrawn at the end of February.

In addition, Simbolon said the company provides facilities to the armed forces, such as for instance vehicles needed for operational purposes, but said this was fully appropriate, in keeping with the security operations which the armed forces are required to undertake to guard the mining company's operations. Furthermore, soldiers were frequently involved in training teams of guards employed by the company.

Simbolon is about to be replaced as military commander by Brig-General Nurdin Zainal MM. He confirmed that soldiers would continue to guard Freeport as a "vital national object" and they were acting on orders from the central government to carry out these duties. "So," he said, "it is entirely appropriate for Freeport to pay wages to the soldiers, in addition to the wages they receive from the armed forces."

According to information gathered by Papuan Post, in addition to paying wages to the troops, the mining company also pays for transportation and food supplies for the troops. According to Decky Murib, a key witness in the case of the shooting of Freeport employees last August, who worked as an operational assistant to Kopassus for ten years, local army and police commands are frequently given donations of Rp 5 million by the company, while it also covers medical expences for members of the armed forces who fall ill.

"These payments are made by the Emergency Planning and Operations Manager of the company, Tom Green," said Decky. "I know that this happens because I often visit his office."

[Slightly abridged translation posted by Tapol.]