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Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. 1615 Poydras Street New Orleans, LA 70112 P.O. Box 51777 New Orleans, LA 70151 |
Thomas J. Egan Senior Vice President and Senior Administrative Deputy to the Office of the Chairman Telephone: 504-582-1626 FAX: 504-582-1611 |
December 6, 1995
Mr. Robert Bryce
c/o Austin Chronicle
4000 N. I 35
Austin, TX 78751
Dear Mr. Bryce:
We continue to read with dismay and disappointment your continued unfounded attacks, and malicious and malevolent distortions of the truth alleging Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold's (Freeport) involvement in the unfortunate and deplorable human rights violations in Irian Jaya.
As it seems you either are uninformed or choose to ignore the Bishop of Jayapura, H.F.M. Munninghoff's, recent public statement publicized both in articles and paid advertisements in the Austin American-Statesman making clear that his report is not about Freeport and does not contain accusations about Freeport, we enclose a copy of the Bishop's signed statement of November 22, 1995 and a video tape of the Bishop reading that statement.
Again, with this letter we have provided you with documentary material clearly demonstrating that prior charges you have made or publicized against Freeport about alleged human rights violations were inaccurate and false. Without waiving any rights we may have with regard to any false and damaging charges that have already been made against Freeport to date, we want to state clearly that if false and damaging accusations about Freeport continue to be made, there is every possibility that we will have no alternative but to seek legal recourse against those parties responsible for the future dissemination of false charges, accusations, and misrepresentations directed against Freeport.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Thomas J. EganTJE/uj
Enclosures