Dozens of protestors rallied in Indonesia this month, to begin a series of demonstrations demanding self-determination for West Papua and the closure of one of the world’s leading mine companies.
Demonstrators from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) protested in front of the offices of PT Freeport, calling for the mining company and the Indonesian military to evacuate areas where it is causing environmental damage.
Protestors also cited a 2002 report by the Papuan Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (Elsham) which claimed that thousands of people had been killed or disappeared by the Indonesian military.
PT Freeport Indonesia describes itself as “one of the world's leading mining” companies that embarks to carry out “exploration, mining and processing ore containing copper, gold and silver in the highland areas of Mimika District, Papua Province, Indonesia”.
The demonstrators had three demands:
- the closure of PT Freeport,
- the withdrawal of the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (National Police) from Papua, and
- self-determination for the people of Papua
Protests are also planned in several other cities.
See more from Pacific Media Watch here.
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