Papua Governor To Discuss Problem Related To Freeport With Jokowi

JAYAPURA, March 14 (Antara) - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe is scheduled to meet President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Jakarta to discuss problem related to Freeport Indonesia. The U.S. company has large gold and copper mines in Papua but it has been banned from exporting copper concentrate over disagreement on its new contract with the government. The problem that follow are the laying off thousands of workers and economic instability in the country's eastern most and backward province. "The governor is now in Jakarta and would soon meet President Joko Widodo, to discuss issues over Freeport," Papua regional administration secretary TEA Heri Dosinaen said here on Monday. Dosinaen was addressing a group of 300 Papuan demonstrators supporting the government in its position facing Freeport. "On behalf of the governor I thank you for your extraordinary support," he said. The demonstration was organized by chairman of GP Ansor for Papua and West Papua Amir Mahmud Madubun, and leaders of other local organizations. Earlier international law professor of the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana said the government of Indonesia needs to tell U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who is to visit the country, that Indonesia is not treating Freeport unfairly. "On the contrary, the government is offering a way out with an option to stay with its contract of work by building a mineral refining facility in Indonesia or becoming a holder of special mining business license (IUPK) and continuing exports," Hikmahanto has been quoted as saying. The government has issued a regulation banning export of unprocessed minerals requiring mining companies to build smelters in the country. Hikmahanto said the U.S. government should not seek to put pressure on Indonesia for respect of democracy, adding the Indonesian government has to listen to its people. "Freeport may not trample on Indonesian sovereignty with its contract of work . Even if the present government has to bow to the U.S. pressure , there is no guarantee that the next government would not be more unfriendlier to Freeport," he said. Opposing political powers in the country would take advantage of the U.S. arrogance to win votes and when they were in power they would be bound to keep their promises, he said. Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Wiranto said that U.S. Vice President Mike Pence would visit Indonesia, but he gave no date.