A REPORT on protests against PT Freeport in Papau would be remiss without citing this one figure: 59-year-old Tom Beanal. Since his youth, this Amungme tribal leader has actively rejected the presence of the US giant gold mine in Papua.

In fact, in 1996 Tom took one fateful step. He took Freeport to court in New Orleans, USA where the mining companys headquarters is located. But his efforts ended in failure because the government banned him from l