Timika, Jubi – Agustinus Hanggaibak, chairman of the Central Papua’s People Assembly (Central Papua MRP), announced that his party has formed a special committee to analyze the environmental impact assessment (AMDAL) of PT Freeport Indonesia, with Yehuda Gobay appointed as the chairman of said committee.
“We have established it, and Yehuda Gobay has been appointed as the chairman of the Freeport’s AMDAL committee to examine the involvement of indigenous communities, including the Amungme and Kamoro,” he said in Timika on Tuesday afternoon (5/3/2024).
Hanggaibak added that Yehuda Gobay would visit Timika to observe firsthand and meet with the Amungme and Kamoro communities.
“The formation of this committee is crucial because of the leadership dualism in Lemasa and Lemasko, so their involvement in the AMDAL is also a concern of the Central Papua MRP as it concerns the future of the Amungme and Kamoro tribes in the Land of Amungsa,” he said.
He emphasized the need to involve Lemasa formed through indigenous deliberation (musdat) in the AMDAL preparation process, as it is for the benefit of indigenous communities, ensuring that no parties exploit the dualism in traditional institutions.
“Traditional institutions must start through indigenous deliberation, and in the future, a Customary Court will also be established to resolve land and other issues,” he said, adding that the Amungme and Kamoro communities must unite in discussing their future through the Freeport’s AMDAL committee to ensure everyone is involved and accountable.
Meanwhile, the second AMDAL from Freeport is still in progress. Freeport hopes everyting will proceed smoothly.
“The Second AMDAL of Freeport is still in progress. We are optimistic that the process will proceed as expected,” said Agung Laksamana, EVP External Affairs of PT Freeport Indonesia in response to Jubi’s inquiry via WhatsApp on Sunday (21/1/2024).
It is known that the Second AMDAL of Freeport concerns underground mining and tailings.
Separately, Enrico Kondologit, an anthropologist from Cenderawasih University, stated that a team from Cenderawasih University’s anthropology department participated in technical meetings on Wednesday (17/1/2024), as well as the AMDAL commission meeting on underground mining and tailings from Freeport on Friday (19/1/2024).
He added that the faculty’s dean, also an anthropologist, Marlina Flassy, participated, and they all returned from the AMDAL commission meeting on Friday night (19/1/2024).
According to Jubi sources from Jakarta, all AMDAL teams are under the auspices of PT Widya Cipta Buana, conducting an AMDAL study on Freeport’s underground mining. PT Widya Cipta Buana collaborates with the Research and Industry Affiliate Institute (LAPI) of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). (*)
