“Proper to Blacklist Freeport”
Wednesday, 28 February, 2007 | 14:52 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Working Committee of the House of Representatives (DPR) regarding environment pollution by PT Freeport already has data and information about problems related to the waste management of the company.

Therefore, said a member of Working Committee on Freeport Tjatur Sapto Edy, it was proper that Freeport be blacklisted by the Department for the Environment as its 'Proper' (Evaluation Program of Company's Performance Rating in Managing the Environment) evaluation noted.

“It was indicated as violating Governmental Regulation Number 82/2001. If it were not blacklisted, we would file a lawsuit,” said this politician from the National Mandate Party Faction, who is also member of Commission VII of DPR, when Tempo contacted him yesterday (02/27).

He revealed the matter in response to the announcement of the environmental auditing of companies, including Freeport, being delayed to the end of June rather than early January.

Tjatur pointed out that the delay was carried out due to the government's concern to solving matters on Freeport during this year's parliamentary sessions.

One day earlier, Sonny Keraf, Deputy Head of the DPR Environment Commission from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Faction, stated that Freeport's environment management had been categorized as poor.

Mindo Pangaribuan, spokesperson for PT Freeport Indonesia, stated that if the company were to be blacklisted, then there should be firm foundations.

“I do not know the grounds for this. What’s for sure is that if one were blacklisted, there would have to be firm foundations,” he said.

Yanuardi Rasudin, Deputy State Minister for the Environment from the Division for Managing Hazardous and Poisonous Materials and Waste (B3), acknowledged that the announcement was delayed for six months in order to provide all companies with an opportunity to improve their B3-waste management.

“They were provided with the opportunity to manage their B3 waste,” he said after joining Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar to attend a meeting with the Working Committee on Freeport.

However, he affirmed that 'Proper' was carried out to encourage companies in managing the environment, adding: “This is not intended as a punishment.”

Ninin Damayanti