font color=#666666>Jakarta: Citing Safety Reasons, Freeport Refuses To Evacuate Pilots Body

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:We could have evacuated Dave earlier (Sunday) since we had found the location, said AMA manager, Norbart, yesterday. However, the evacuation was delayed because they had to use a big helicopter. According to a source, PT Freeports refusal to assist the evacuation was reportedly linked to the current tensions in Wamena. Norbart said AMA contacted PT Freeport Indonesia management last Saturday to ask for the emergency teams assistance, particularly the Airfast helicopter, but PT Freeport Indonesia refused to provide help. Daves remains were scheduled to be evacuated today by the Search and Rescue Team from Sentani, Jayapura, using Indonesian Air Forces helicopter. We have sent a small helicopter and a team member from Wamena. We could see Daves body around Sendudu village, said Norbart. The Pilatus Porter plane piloted by Dave lost contact with the Tolikara and Wamena Towers last Saturday. The plane which took off at 11.00 Central Indonesia Time from Taipe II Airport heading for Sendudu in Tolikara, Papua, was not carrying any passenger. The six-seater Pilatus Porter plane has been flown in Papua since 2003, flying about 75 percent of Papuas residents living in remote areas. Almost 70 percent of Papua use air, rather than land or sea transportation. PT Freeport Indonesias spokesman, Mindo Pangaribuan, confirmed that the company had refused to provide assistance to evacuate the body due to safety and security issues. "The weather keeps changing," Mindo told Tempo from his cellphone yesterday. However, he denied charges that the company had refused to aid because of the current condition in Wamena. Mindo said normally Freeport provides evacuation assistance with or without being asked. The company has an emergency team for internal needs which is also available for the public at large. Last time Freeport's team evacuated a Twin Otter plane belonging to Trigana Air, which fell down on Mulia Mountains was on November 17, 2006. However, Mindo could not confirm whether Freeport will send their team once the weather improved. Tjahjono Ep | Aqida Swamurti