Laurenzus Kadepa, a member of Commission I of Papua Legislative Council on Political, Legal and Human Rights – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua legislator Laurenzus Kandepa said House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto has tarnished the reputation of the legislature because his alleged attempt to extort Freeport Indonesia over contract extension negotiations, but the mining compnay is no better.
“Freeport is worst than Novanto who used the president and vice-president’s names concerning to the contract extension with PT. Freeport,” Kadepa said.
“All this time Freeport has never respected the land tenure owners. What it has given to the seven tribes is not comparable to local natural resources it took,” Kadepa told Jubi by phone on Monday (23/11/2015).
According to him, Freeport ignored the voices of the Papuan people, the landowners and local government in Papua.
“Freeport accommodates only the interest of Jakarta while it’s located in Papua. It’s certainly not right,” he said.
Even so, he agreed if Setya Novanto to be prosecuted according to the Law. But, he further said, it doesn’t mean Freeport could think they are fine. “It’s time to abolish mafia. The attitude shown by Freeport Chief in the recording must be appreciated,” he said. According to him, the central government’s officials to not just take benefit from Freeport, while the landowners in Papua never had been considered though its operation area are located in Papua.
“Today the people’s House of Representative means nothing in this country. However we also should question the Freeport’s alibi to record their conversation,” he said.
Setya Novanto himself admitted the published recording transcript was his conversation with Freeport Chief, but it is not complete. He regretted it. “If the transcript is complete, you will find out that Freeport has good intention. Therefore I regret it. My conversation had good intention. I suspect there is certain purpose in distributing the conversation transcript, furthermore it’s not complete,” said Setya Novanto as cited from various online media. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
