Jayapura – The Papuan people's demand for PT Freeport to be closed down is considered reasonable, given the lack of involvement of customary landowners in the initial licensing process and the hidden interests of global capitalism that sacrifice the rights of the Papuan people.
The simultaneous demonstrations to close PT Freeport today, Tuesday April 7, have received support from Free Papua Movement (OPM) Chairperson Jeffrey Bomanak.
Bomanak stated that it is time for PT Freeport to be closed down to prevent the prolonging the suffering of the Papuan people over the last 69 years since the initial unilateral agreement between the company and the Indonesian government.
"All Papuans today declare that PT Freeport must be closed. This is logical bearing in mind the horrific fact that during its 59 years of operation many people and their rights have been sacrificed. From historical facts, Indonesia entered Papua through Freeport, so Indonesia must leave Papua through Freeport as well. Freeport must be closed", he asserted.
It was stated that the illegalisation of Freeport's contract of work on April 7, 1967, was a formality under an international conspiracy that crucified the economic and political rights of the Papuan people. This was exploited by the United States, Indonesia and the Netherlands using the UN's authority in the interests of capitalism.
"In fact to this day in 2026 the Papuan people are being inhumanely colonised, with the continued practice of neoliberalism, neocolonialism and neocapitalism becoming a basic problem that must be resolved comprehensively based on universally applicable laws", Bomanak asserted.
PT Freeport's departure from Papua, According to Bomanak, is the best solution to resolve the humanitarian conflict and illegal exploitation of natural resources.
"The solution to resolving the humanitarian conflict and illegal exploitation of natural resources in Papua is to close down Freeport and it must be held comprehensively accountable", he said
The coordinator of the international solidarity campaign to close PT Freeport believes that the Papuan people have the absolute right to close Freeport without any justification.
"The Papuan people are the owners of their ancestral rights and the inheritance of God's creation", said Bomanak.
PT Freeport, which entered the Indonesian territory after the Foreign Investment Law (UU PMA) was passed in 1967, is responsible for a number of problems occurring in Papua.
The simultaneous actions demanding the closure of PT Freeport, which took up the theme "Close PT Freeport as the mastermind behind the oppression in Papua", is seen as an expression of the Papuan people's disappointment over the repeated oppression carried out in the name of the state, which has impacted the social, economic, political and cultural well-being of indigenous Papuans.
Bomanak also emphasised that the situation was further exacerbated by the extension of PT Freeport's Special Mining Business License (IUPK) until 2061 that was agreed upon in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on February 19, 2026, in Washington DC, without involving representatives of indigenous Papuans (OAP) or in other words done unilaterally.
"President Prabowo Subianto's incompetence has added to the suffering of the Papuan people, while the state has chosen to become an accomplice of the United States for the sake of fostering nearly 60 years of unending oppression in the land of Papua", he concluded.
In addition to Sorong and Nabire, simultaneous actions calling for PT Freeport's closure were held today in Jayapura, Manokwari, Timika, Ambon, Ternate, Makassar, Gorontalo, Manado, Kendari, Lombok, Bali, Malang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Bandung, Jakarta, Palembang and Medan.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ketua OPM Mendukung Penuh Aksi Tutup PT Freeport".]
Source: https://suarapapua.com/2026/04/07/ketua-opm-mendukung-penuh-aksi-tutup-pt-freeport/
