PRESS RELEASE 

MANOKWARI NGO ALLIANCE FOR TANGGUH ADVOCACY

Manokwari, 14 May 2002


Saengga Community Block Roads at BP Indonesia Base Camp, 

Demanding a Moratorium on the Tangguh Project


On Monday, 13 May 2002, at around 8.00 WIT, the Saengga Village community in the Babo Sub-district, Manokwari Regency, held a demonstration at the BP Indonesia Base Camp in Saengga Village. The demonstration ended at 19:15 WIT without an agreement
between the community and BP Indonesia. This climax in a series of events has resulted with the Saengga Village community demanding that commitments be fulfilled that were made by the Manokwari local Level II Government and BP Indonesia during a workshop in Saengga Village on April 24-27, 2002.

In this workshop, several other agreements were made between the Manokwari Local Level II government, BP Indonesia and the Saengga Village community. These agreements made at the Saengga Workshop included further discussions to be held in Manokwari together with the Manokwari Village Head, BP Indonesia and the Saengga Village community

Several important issues were agreed to be discussed later in Manokwari including a review of the land price and status that has is currently profiting BP Indonesia as well as that related with the structuring of the Saengga Village (the amount of houses to be built). 

However, up until now, there has yet to be a sign that BP Indonesia and the Manokwari Local Level II Government will facilitate discussions about agreements made in the Saengga Workshop with the community in Manokwari.

Based on the community position statement (May 7, 2002), signed by 63 people from the Saengga community and sent to the Manokwari NGO Alliance for Tangguh Advocacy on May 13, 2002, the Saengga Village Community demand that:

1. BP must immediately take responsibility for the agreement and Saengga workshop results. 
2. The Manokwari local government must immediately return to their agreement and follow-up on the Saengga Workshop agreement results.
3. These issues must be immediately addressed in a period of three days, counting from May 7, 2002.

Considering the developments that have occurred in the Saengga Village related to the BP Indonesia operations to exploit gas and conduct liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations in the Bintuni Bay, the Manokwari NGO Alliance for Tangguh Advocacy, working on behalf of the community while following their own organization s visions and missions, have taken the position to always be consistent in struggling for the rights of the marginalized community.

Related with the demonstration done by the Saengga Village community at the BP Indonesia Base Camp in the Saengga Village, the Manokwari NGO Alliance for Tangguh Advocacy state the following:

1. The actions of the Saengga Village community are in reaction to the non-transparent actions of BP Indonesia, Pertamina and the Government especially towards the Saengga Village and communities that will be impacted by the development of this LNG project.
2. The occurrences of Monday, 13 May 2002, should not have had to be done if the government, BP Indonesia and Pertamina took responsibility and followed all commitments made together with the community.
3. The community, BP Indonesia, Pertamina, the government and other involved parties in this project must follow up on unresolved issues through dialogue without the use of violence.
4. The government, BP Indonesia and Pertamina must immediately take follow up actions in accordance with the aspirations of the community and take responsibility for the commitments made at the Saengga Workshop on April 24-27, 2002.
5. The Indonesian government must put in effect a moratorium on the Tangguh Project and immediately conduct open consultations without pressuring the Bintuni Bay community, specifically the community that will be impacted directly, by providing broad information beforehand related to the impacts of the project. The community must also be given the opportunity to deliberate and choose what is best for them.

This press release is to remind us all that social processes have been put aside for the sake of national interests and other reasons.

Manokwari NGO Alliance For Tangguh Advocacy

Manokwari, 14 May 2002


Yan Christian Warinussy, SH, Executive Director LP3BH Manokwari
Bustar Maitar, Executive Director, PERDU Manokwari
Kristian Torey, Contact Person for ELSHAM Manokwari
Ir. Yoso Bumantoro, YBLBC Manokwari
Septer Manufandu, S, Pt, Executive Director YALHIMO