After checking out some legal acts issued to mining companies in Papua last February, Hendrik Siregar came across some new facts. Amid the confusion over Freeport's licensing dispute, this researcher from the Auriga Nusantara Foundation found a number of companies operating on mining concession areas once held by Freeport. Some 42 companies hold licenses to mine (IUP), in addition to one contract of work (CoW).

Those companies occupy the former mi