And in news from Indonesia — the Associated Press is reporting the Indonesian military has acknowledged that an American gold company had been providing direct “support” to army units accused of human rights abuses in the remote province of Papua. The army says New Orleans-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold has provided it with “vehicles, fuel and meals directly to the units in the field.” On Tuesday, the New York Times reported Freeport has paid at least $20 million to Indonesian military commanders to protect the company’s facilities in Papua.
US Company Finances, Equips Indonesian Military in Papua
HeadlineDec 30, 2005