Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA2585
2007-09-14 09:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
PAPUAN TRIBE DEMANDS "COMPENSATION" FROM FREEPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO7593 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #2585 2570923 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 140923Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6273 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 3439 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4311 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1171 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0794 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1756 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002585
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/ANP, INR/EAP, DRL
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EMIN ID
SUBJECT: PAPUAN TRIBE DEMANDS "COMPENSATION" FROM FREEPORT
REF: 06 JAKARTA 2492
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002585
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/ANP, INR/EAP, DRL
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EMIN ID
SUBJECT: PAPUAN TRIBE DEMANDS "COMPENSATION" FROM FREEPORT
REF: 06 JAKARTA 2492
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Papuan tribal activists recently demonstrated
in support of their claim to land constituting part of
Freeport's Grasberg mine. While the group is unlikely to
secure a payoff from Freeport or disrupt the company's
operations, the incident demonstrates the problems of poverty
and underdevelopment in the Papuan highlands. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) TRIBE WANTS ITS RIGHTS -- Nearly 500 members of the
highland Moni Ugimba tribe descended on the governor's office
in Jayapura September 11 to demand compensation from PT
Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg mine on the basis of
traditional rights. The peaceful protesters, many of whom
wore traditional attire and carried bows and arrows, called
for the provincial government to recognize their claim to the
land. A mid-level provincial government official met the
demonstrators and promised to raise the matter with Governor
Barnabas Suebu. Protest organizer Samuel Tabuni threatened
to close Freeport's operations if the company did not meet
the group's demands. There appears little likelihood,
however, that the group could disrupt Freeport's operations
even slightly, unlike the February 2006 protest by illegal
miners that shut the mine for several days (Reftel).
3. (C) FREEPORT SEES A SHAKEDOWN -- Freeport's Director of
Corporate Communications Scott Hanna told poloff that the
company has a long history with this group and sees the
tribe's demands as "a revenue generating exercise." He
asserted that the Moni Ugimba tribe had no historical claim
to any land which was part of Freeport's operations. He
stressed that Freeport did, however, recognize the customary
land claims of the Amungme people and other groups who
predominated in the Grasberg area and had provided them with
development assistance.
4. (C) NOT SO FAST -- Papua ethnography expert and Freeport
consultant Dr. Kalman Muller had a slightly different take.
He told us that in the past the Moni Ugimba had used some of
the land now in Freeport's area for hunting and gathering.
This could give them a customary claim on the land. Muller
acknowledged, however, that Papuan customary law, an oral
compilation of the practices of various tribes, was far from
clear on the issue of land ownership. He also noted that the
Moni Ugimba had no claim to the land under Indonesian law.
5. (C) IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID -- The vague nature of Papuan
customary law, together with the contrast between the
widespread poverty in the area and the enormous wealth
generated by Freeport's operations, invite claims such as
this. In the past, such a demonstration might have aimed to
provoke a violent reaction from the police, with the
resulting outcry giving the tribe some leverage over
Freeport. This time, as increasingly is the case, the
demonstration passed without incident. Nevertheless, the
incident highlights Papua's economic problems and underscores
the need for economic development in the Papuan highlands,
something President Yudhoyono and Governor Suebu have pledged
to make a priority.
HUME
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/ANP, INR/EAP, DRL
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EMIN ID
SUBJECT: PAPUAN TRIBE DEMANDS "COMPENSATION" FROM FREEPORT
REF: 06 JAKARTA 2492
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Papuan tribal activists recently demonstrated
in support of their claim to land constituting part of
Freeport's Grasberg mine. While the group is unlikely to
secure a payoff from Freeport or disrupt the company's
operations, the incident demonstrates the problems of poverty
and underdevelopment in the Papuan highlands. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) TRIBE WANTS ITS RIGHTS -- Nearly 500 members of the
highland Moni Ugimba tribe descended on the governor's office
in Jayapura September 11 to demand compensation from PT
Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg mine on the basis of
traditional rights. The peaceful protesters, many of whom
wore traditional attire and carried bows and arrows, called
for the provincial government to recognize their claim to the
land. A mid-level provincial government official met the
demonstrators and promised to raise the matter with Governor
Barnabas Suebu. Protest organizer Samuel Tabuni threatened
to close Freeport's operations if the company did not meet
the group's demands. There appears little likelihood,
however, that the group could disrupt Freeport's operations
even slightly, unlike the February 2006 protest by illegal
miners that shut the mine for several days (Reftel).
3. (C) FREEPORT SEES A SHAKEDOWN -- Freeport's Director of
Corporate Communications Scott Hanna told poloff that the
company has a long history with this group and sees the
tribe's demands as "a revenue generating exercise." He
asserted that the Moni Ugimba tribe had no historical claim
to any land which was part of Freeport's operations. He
stressed that Freeport did, however, recognize the customary
land claims of the Amungme people and other groups who
predominated in the Grasberg area and had provided them with
development assistance.
4. (C) NOT SO FAST -- Papua ethnography expert and Freeport
consultant Dr. Kalman Muller had a slightly different take.
He told us that in the past the Moni Ugimba had used some of
the land now in Freeport's area for hunting and gathering.
This could give them a customary claim on the land. Muller
acknowledged, however, that Papuan customary law, an oral
compilation of the practices of various tribes, was far from
clear on the issue of land ownership. He also noted that the
Moni Ugimba had no claim to the land under Indonesian law.
5. (C) IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID -- The vague nature of Papuan
customary law, together with the contrast between the
widespread poverty in the area and the enormous wealth
generated by Freeport's operations, invite claims such as
this. In the past, such a demonstration might have aimed to
provoke a violent reaction from the police, with the
resulting outcry giving the tribe some leverage over
Freeport. This time, as increasingly is the case, the
demonstration passed without incident. Nevertheless, the
incident highlights Papua's economic problems and underscores
the need for economic development in the Papuan highlands,
something President Yudhoyono and Governor Suebu have pledged
to make a priority.
HUME