First Letter
Second Letter
Editorial Notes

The Moni peoples' protest against the exploratory activities of PT. Freeport Indonesia at Bilogai.

       The nature of Freeport's offer of a 'bonus' and a 1% Trust Fund are more and more transparent. As has been suspected from the beginning, PT.FI has not actually changed any of its 'un-humanitarian' practices which have affected and continue to affect indigenous peoples.

        In order to switch the interests of the local population, who they have made their victims for 30 years in issues ranging from human rights violations, to destruction of the environment and other social problems, PT.FI have persuaded a number of representatives from the Amungme, Nduga, Dani, Me, Damal and Karomo peoples to accept the 'bonus' and a 1% Trust Fund that is being offered them. They are using this as legal justification to ravage and explore the mountains which are sacred to these indigenous peoples, to their hearts content.

       The persuasion, force and intimidation as well as other forms of illegal action that were used by PT.FI and their agents are closely connected to their plan to take over 2.6 more hectares of land through the 31 December 1990 land concessions contract. This encompasses all the indigenous peoples' land of the Middle mountain range region and the Baliem valley, Irian Jaya.

        This is the situation that LEMASA, especially Nerek Naisori Lembaga Adat Moni Agungme (LEAMOA) in the Aroanop valley, Timika, has been observing for a long time. So on 22 July 1994 LEAMOA, who works to protect the rights of the indigenous Moni and Amungme peoples in their traditional regions, began to distribute a letter throughout Arwanop, Bilogai, Pogapa, Biandog and Demandoga, as proof of their opinion on the activities of PT.FI in this traditional region.

Of the reasons for distributing this letter were:

1.    The continuous move by PT.FI officials of approaching important Amungme and Moni representatives in the above mentioned areas, in an attempt to gain their support for PT. FI's further exploitation and exploration of these sacred mountains.
2.    Our bad experience of PT.FI up till now, which entails more than 3O years of exploration and exploitation of our traditional land. The result of this is that Mother (mountain) has been raped and ripped to tatters and our environment has been destroyed. Many of us too have been interrogated and killed.
3.     We are aware that to the present day we have not been acknowledged as human beings. Non of the foreigners recognize us as the owners of all this natural wealth ( land, mountains, forests, rivers etc.)

Via this letter we demand that:

1 .      Any activities that are intended to be carried out, whether by PT.FI or any other mining company, in our traditional land have to have permission from LEMASA and LEAMO.
2.       The local inhabitants have to be formally acknowledged as the rightful indigenous owners of all the natural resources in their traditional land region.
3.       The Organisation has to declare its capability to pay for a good education for our children, from primary school to university, nationally and internationally.
4.       75% of the Labour for the Organisation must be made up of Moni people.
5.       An air route must be opened between Timika-Tembagapura- Bilogai.

        LEMOA and LEMASA stated that if these demands were not adhered to, all exploratory activities and any other activities of Freeport and its affiliates would have to be stopped.

Yours sincerely,

Yesaya Wandagau
Director of Nerek Naisorei LEOMOA ARWANOP
18 October 1996

First letter.
LEMASA

PT. Freeport Indonesia are currently planning explorations into the following mountains:

1. In Ompondi village:

a. Blue lake (Tambang biru)

b. Anwa river.

c. Ju Ambiga mountain. (Jubagi)
 
 

2. In Homeyo district:

a. Kemabu, Ugimba village.

b. Munidogo Isandoga mountain.

c. Uwagi Badae, Bugalaga village.
 
 

3. In Sugaps Bilogai district:

a. Buda Wandoga mountain, Sambil village.

b. Gulurnbulu Ogomu mountain, Ogomu village.

c. Wagamina Demandoga mountain. (Delama)
 

        We realise that the above mentioned mountains contain natural mineral deposits and consequently if any research is being carried out, it is to be done in partnership with Nerek Naisorei LEAMOA (Lembaga Adat Moni Amungme)

Timika, 22 July 1994.

Those who protect the mountains and rivers of the traditional land region.

Yesaya Wandagau                Tom Beanal

Director of Naisorei Ompondi Arwanop           Isorei Negel

LEMASA,

Timika.

The Moni peoples' demands concerning the exploratory activities of PT. Freeport Indonesia in Bilogai.

        The nature of Freeport's offers of a 'bonus' and a I% Trust Fund, the results of the revelation of various cases of human rights violations in 1994/1995 and the riots on the 10-12 March 1996, is more and more transparent. As has been suspected from the beginning, PT.FL has not actually changed any of the 'un-humanitarian' practices which have affected and continue to affect indigenous peoples.

        In order to switch the interests of the local population, which they have made their victims for 30 years in issues ranging from human rights violations, to destruction of the environment and other social problems, PT.FI have persuaded a number of representatives from the Amungme, Nduga, Dani, Me, Damal and Karomo to accept the 'bonus' and a 1% Trust Fund that is being offered them. As a result the community gathered under Lembaga Musyawarah Adat Suku Agungme (LEMASA) has been divided in two: one group who has rejected the bonus and 1% Trust fund of PT.FI and a second group who has accepted both. The same problem has also struck the Moni people, with one group which is going under the name of the Moni people accepting the above mentioned 'blood money'. (On the basis of LEMAS and LEAMOAs' observations, there are about 9 people going under the name of the Moni peoples to accept the above mentioned money.)

        With the appearance of this group that has accepted the money PT.FI automatically assumed that the people really had agreed to accept that bribe-money. And that reasoning has been used to legitimise PT.FI's exploring into the sacred mountains of the indigenous peoples, to their hearts content.

        The persuasion, force and intimidation as well as other forms of illegal action that were used by PT.FI officials and their agents are closely connected to their plan to take over 2.6 more hectares of land through the 31 December 1990 land concessions contract. This encompasses all the indigenous peoples' land of the Middle mountain range region and the Baliem valley, Irian Jaya.

        This is the situation that LEMASA, especially Nerek Naisori Lembaga Adat Moni Agungme (LEAMOA) in the Aroanop valley, Timika, has been observing for a long time. So on 22 July 1994 LEAMOA, who works to protect the rights of the indigenous Moni and Amungme peoples in their traditional regions, began to distribute a letter throughout Arwanop, Bilogai, Pogapa, Biandog and Demandoga, as proof of their opinion on the activities of PT.FI in this traditional region.

Of the reasons for distributing this letter were.

1.     The continuous move by PT.FI officials of approaching important Amungme and Moni representatives in the above mentioned areas, in an attempt to gain their support for PT. FI's further exploitation and exploration of these sacred mountains.
2.     Our bad experience of PT.FI up till now, which entails more than 30 years of exploration and exploitation of our traditional land. The result of this is that our Mother (mountain) has been raped and ripped to tatters and our environment has been destroyed. Many of us too have been interrogated and killed.
3.     We are aware that to the present day we have not been acknowledged as human beings. None of the foreigners recognise us as the rightful owners of all this natural wealth ( land, mountains, forests, rivers etc.)

        Because of this, through this letter LEAMOA in the name of all the Moni and Amungme peoples in Aranop, Bilogai, Pogapa, Demandoga, Duma and Jepesiga demand:

1.       Any activities that are intended to be carried out, whether by PT.FI or any other mining company, in our traditional land have to have permission from LEMASA and LEAMO.
2.       The local inhabitants have to be formally acknowledged as the rightful indigenous owners of all the natural resources in their traditional land region.
3.       The Organisation has to declare its capability to pay for a good education for our children from primary school to university, nationally and internationally.
4.       75% of the Labour for the Organisation must be made up of Moni people.
5.       An air route must be opened between Timika-Tembagapura- Bilogai.

        LEMOA and LEMASA stated that if these demands were not adhered to, all exploratory activities and any other activities of Freeport and its affiliates will have to be stopped.

LEOMOA ARWANOP, Timika, Irian Jaya.
18 October 1996

Second letter (15 March 1996)

Organisation for the deliberation of the Amungme peoples traditional law(LEMASA)
Nerek Naisorei Leamoa Ompondi Arwanop/Bilogai, Irian Jaya.

Number: 010/M.A/L.A/IV/199611997
2 pages
Subject: PT. Freeports explorations in Bilogai

Foe the attention of:
Head of the Buda mountain exploration team, in Bilogai.

Dear Sir,

On behalf of all the indigenous inhabitants under LEAMOA, Ompondi, Anvanop- Irian Jaya, with this letter we ask you to consider the demands of the local inhabitants regarding PT. Freeport Indonesia's explorational activities in the Buda mountain region, Bilogai:

1.       Any explorational activities by PT.Freeport Indonesia or any other mining company in the traditional land of the Moni and Agmungme peoples including Arwanop, Bilogai, Pogapa, Biandoga, Demandoga, Duma and Jepesiga must have permission from LEAMO.
2.       The local inhabitants have to be formally acknowledged as the rightful indigenous owners of all the natural resources in their traditional land region.
3.       The Organisation has to formally and openly declare its capability to pay for a good education for our children from primary school to university, nationally and internationally.
4.       75% of the Labour for the Organisation must be made up of Moni people.
5.       An air route must be opened between Timika-Tembagapura- Bilogai.

These are our demands. We would like to extend our thanks for your attention and understanding.

Sent from Anvanop on 15 March, 1996
LEAMOA, Arwanop, Ompondi.

Yesaya Wandagau
director.
 

Editorial notes.

Changes by the editor without changing the content or intention of the letter of the 15 March 1996 above were made on the agreement of Mr. Yesaya Wandagau, Director of LEAM0A Ompomdi, Arwanop, Timika, Irian Jaya, on the 19 October 1996.

Signatures on the facts and demands of the Moni peoples regarding PT. Freeport Indonesia's explorational activities in the Guda mountain region, Bilogai, Sugapa district, Paniai.

No.    Name                            Occupation/position                       Signature
1.        Jusuinus Tipagau            tribal leader
2.        Yeesaya Selegani           comm. dev. freeport
3.        Mathius Somau              security Freeport
4.        David Belau                   deakon
5.        Julius Selegani                explorer
6.        Lambertus Wandagau    traditional group member
7.        Junus Sondegau             traditional group member
8.        Jan Kobogau                 clergyman
9.        Julius Sany                     tribal leader
10.      Bartho Sondegau           road worker
11.      Jakub Pujau                   exploration Freeport
12.      Apianus Janampa           traditional group member
13.      Jahaya Dubitau              traditional group member
14.      Pilemon Wandagau        traditional group member
15.      Marten Mayani              helicopter pilot
16.      Pilemon Selegani            tribal leader
17.      Amos Zagani                 comm. dev. Freeport
18.      Mathius Maizen             tribal leader
19.      Gad Kobogou               tribal leader

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List of Moni people working and living in Timika.

56 people & the organisations they work for.
From Yesaya Wandagau
Director of LEAMOA, Arwanop, 15 March 1996.

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LEAMOA members are listed (9)