Report of Irian Jaya deal denied

DUBLIN - A report in Monday's Irish Times city edition that the Freeport mining company had "apparently agreed" to give $15 million…

DUBLIN - A report in Monday's Irish Times city edition that the Freeport mining company had "apparently agreed" to give $15 million annually to tribal communities in Inan Jaya has been denied by West Papua Action, writes David Shanks.

Mr Mark Doris of the Portlaoise based group said the report arose from an offer, agreed between the Indonesian governor and Freeport/RTZ but refused by tribal leaders at a meeting with the company chief executive, Mr James Moffett last Saturday. Mr Doris said his information was that the Papuans did not consider the development offer to be radical enough.

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