Eltinus Omaleng, Regent of Mimika while meet and hear the workersí demand (IST)
Jayapura, Jubi – Seven tribal customary rights owners, Damal, Komoro, Amungme, Dani, Mee, Moni and Nduga threatened to shut down Freeport McMoran in Mimika, Papua if the company failed to meet their demands, secretary, Degey Manase said.
Manase said the deadline for the company to respond to the demands is by next week. If not, the seven tribal representatives facilitated by Mimika Regent, will fly to New Orleans to meet Richard C. Adkerson, the shares owner of company.
“The second option, we will shut the entire mining activities. We are ready to die for our natural resources. All this time we feel that we have been cheated on and fooled. Our rights, employees and seven tribal communities are not appreciated,” he said via phone to the Jubi on Monday (13/10). Degey Manase said, it will continue to fight for their demands.
“We are demanding the company to form Seven Tribal Empowerment Department in order to empower seven tribal communities, then develop their competence,” he said. He hopes that their rights are protected.
Earlier, thousands of workers from seven tribes blocked access to the main roads leading to a Freeport mine area on Wednesday ( 8/10).
Mimika Regent, Eltinus Omaleng confirmed that the employees and the seven tribes have made the demands since four years ago.
“The chief of PT. Freeport, Rozik Sucipto has promised it, but still it has not been accommodated. Therefore, the demands should be taken seriously,” Eltinus said at that time. (Arjuna Pademme/Tina)
