Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Controversy has again erupted over security arrangements for copper and gold miner Freeport Indonesia, this time amid reports that armed American guards are operating around the Grasberg mine in Papua.
Djoko Suyanto, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, acknowledged on Sunday that the US-based miner was employing four "security consultants" at its concession from a company that also provided security contractors to the US government and companies operating in Iraq.
He added that they were all former US military personnel but were employed by Freeport as civilians. "There are indeed a number of former American servicemen working at Freeport who were hired as civilians, like all the other workers there," Djoko said.
He insisted there was nothing unusual about the arrangement, saying Freeport adopted similar security measures at its other operations worldwide. However, the minister's explanation failed to quell the growing suspicion over the presence of armed foreign nationals operating in the country.
Tjahjo Kumolo, a member of House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees foreign and defense affairs, said he was stunned by the initial reports from Friday that there were up to 70 US servicemen deployed at Freeport. "If indeed this is true, then we've clearly sold our sovereignty as a free people," he said.
Tjahjo, from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said there was a tendency for the government to kowtow to the wishes of the US government.
He added that the presence of US troops operating in the country could be linked to Washington's decision to grant 24 used F-16 fighter jets to Indonesia. "We shouldn't barter away our national sovereignty for a batch of planes that we're going to have to pay through the nose for to upgrade anyway," he said.
He called for the formation of an independent team to look into the issue. "What's important is that there's an official explanation from the government on this matter," Tjahjo said. "There's a good possibility of violations by the foreign party, so an investigation is very much needed."
The issue was first raised last Friday by Ali Kastela, from the opposition People's Conscience Party (Hanura), who claimed he saw 70 US military personnel on active duty when he visited the mine recently.
The allegation was echoed by Jimmy J., the speaker of the Papuan provincial legislature, who said he could not understand what armed foreigners were doing in the province. The issue has also sparked speculation that the armed presence was part of a wider plan to embed US security officials in the Indonesian government, including in the Ministry of Defense.
However, Air Marshal Eris Herryanto, the ministry's secretary general, denied the claim, saying there was no move to employ foreigners.
The controversy is the latest linked to security arrangements for Freeport. Late last month, National Police Chief Gen. Timor Pradopo admitted that police on the ground at Grasberg took millions of dollars in "lunch money" to provide security for the miner's operations.
The attacks on Freeport and security forces have intensified recently, as a strike started by mine workers on Sept. 15 drags on. Two people were injured on Tuesday in the latest ambush on a vehicle on the road leading to the mine. A week earlier, gunmen opened fire on another Freeport patrol vehicle, injuring a police officer.