Andi Hajramurni and Suherdjoko, Makassar/Semarang/Jakarta – Anger at PT Freeport Indonesia continued Wednesday, with protesters demanding the closure of the company's mine in Papua over allegations Freeport was stealing the wealth of Papuans and degrading the environment.
Papuan students demonstrated in three cities – Makassar in South Sulawesi, Semarang in Central Java and Jakarta.
In Makassar, a protest involving about 30 students turned violent when they vandalized the West Irian Liberation Monument.
Police officers stood by as the students tore the lettering from the monument, and replaced it with the words, "This is the Papuan People's Tyranny Monument." Officers had to step in to prevent a fight between the monument's caretaker, Takdir H Lawata, and the students.
"Please, go ahead with your rally, but don't destroy the monument. This is a historical monument, celebrating the liberation of the Papuan people from the grip of the PKI," Takdir said, referring to the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party. "I care for this monument night and day, and you just destroy it," he shouted at the students.
The protesters also criticized Vice President Jusuf Kalla for his statement that the government would not shut down Freeport's operation. They accused the Vice President of betraying the people of Papua for the benefit of big business.
"Jusuf Kalla comes from eastern Indonesia, so he should be on the side of eastern people, including Papuans. In reality, however, he has betrayed us," JP Tabuni, the coordinator of the action, said.
In Semarang, Papuan students unfurled banners which read, "Close Freeport now", "Freeport has to be responsible for the destruction of the ecosystem in Timika/Papua" and "Improve the Welfare of the Papuan People now." The peaceful rally ended at 11:30 a.m. after rally coordinator, Fransiscus Kekey, read out the students' demands. Kekey accused Freeport of failing to improve the welfare of Papuans during its 39-year operation in the province.
Papua's natural resources have been exploited for the benefit of the company, while the people of Papua have been abandoned to poverty, he said. "Freeport just steals the wealth of the Papuan people, without doing anything to improve their welfare," he said.
He claimed Freeport had posted profits of US$494 million in 2003, up from $398.5 million in 2002, but only between 1.3 and 1.6 percent of that money had gone to the Indonesian government.
In Jakarta, hundreds of Papuan students and Papuans living in Java and Bali held a peaceful rally. Police installed barricades in front of Plaza 89 in South Jakarta, where Freeport's offices are located, preventing demonstrators from approaching the building. Several people addressed the crowd outside the building, denouncing Freeport and demanding the closure of its mine.