On Friday 24th October 13 people demonstrated outside the offices of RTZ in London in solidarity with a simultaneous protest in Jakarta outside the offices of PT Freeport Indonesia. These demonstrations were against the continued exploitation of both the land and the tribal people of West Papua by the giant Freeport mine.

The following leaflet was handed out to RTZ staff and passers by.

TODAY PAPUAN STUDENTS START A HUNGER STRIKE IN PROTEST TO THE FREEPORT MINE

We are here in solidarity with these students and hundreds of other Papuans and Indonesians who are protesting today outside the PT Freeport offices in Jakarta. Rio Tinto has a 12% shareholding in Freeport-McMoRan, this means that they are fully involved in the Freeport mine in West Papua.

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“...you suck my blood until it is all drained and I remain only bones without flesh.” Mama Yosepha, Papuan Tribeswoman talking to the CEO of Freeport-McMoRan.

In 2002 Freeport-McMoRan paid $5.6 million to the Indonesian military who have killed hundreds of thousands of West Papuans, especially in the highly militarized area surrounding the mine. West Papua is one of the last great wild places on earth. Freeport and RTZ have reduced parts of this to a toxic dump. 110,000 tonnes of highly toxic tailings are discharged into the local river system every day. Resulting copper poisoning has caused the deaths of hundreds of children and completely destroyed the local ecosystem.

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“Freeport operation should be shut down” Andreas Anggaibak, Executive Director of the Amungme Tribal Council

In fact due to Freeport/RTZ’s unending greed for profits and resource extraction the mine has been shut for the last two weeks due to a landslide caused by overproduction which killed eight people. May it NEVER reopen!

We are supporting the demands of those protesting today in Jakarta:

1. That PT Freeport Indonesia establish an Independent Investigation Body to investigate the costs of Freeport's operations in West Papua since it began (environmental, spiritual, socio-cultural, socio-economic, socio-political).
2. Immediate withdrawal of military build-up around the mining area that threatens security and stability and creates fear among the tribal people.
3. Demand an immediate end to Freeport's financial contribution to the Indonesian military (15% of its income), and at the same time neglects its obligations for the local people and environment.

For more info see www.westpapua.net