Papua Tribe Claims Freeport Intimidation

Papua Tribe Claims Freeport Intimidation

The Papua tribe suing mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia reported what it claims is a series of intimidations by the company to the National Commission on Human Rights, or Komnas HAM, on Friday.

"We are here to report and ask for protection from Komnas HAM because we've become very uncomfortable" with the company's actions, said Titus Natkime, a lawyer for the Amungme tribe.

He said people involved with the case have increasingly received menacing phone calls since the tribe filed suit against the company.

"There have been many intimidating cell phone calls to our family members," he said. "There have been phone calls coming in through our relatives saying that I am breaking the law because I am a member of the OPM [Free Papua Movement]."

A Freeport spokesperson refused to comment about the allegations.

The Amungme filed suit in May claiming they had lost $30 billion dollars in resources and income due to the Freeport mine. They argue much of the tribe's land is occupied by the mine but the they have not had a fair share in the wealth it generates.

ENDS

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