According to the news report, Ifdhal said, “Since 1995, the company has had an agreement with the local people to donate one percent of its gross profit to foundations to be distributed for development projects.. The villagers want the company to be clear on where the money goes and who receives it.”

He added that a move by the company misconstrued as being nontransparent could create conflict among villagers. He was reported to have said that the company was cooperative in explaining how the fund work, although he declined to say how much money Freeport distributed every year or who received it.

Although the commission hasn't reached a conclusion, considering that it might have to question representatives from the company's foundation, Ifdhal was reported to have said that the commission hopes to resolve the provlem within a month.

Freeport Indonesia is the local subsidiary of US-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, the world’s largest publicly traded copper company. Freeport Indonesia spokesperson, Mindo Pangaribuan, confirmed to the Jakarta Post that the meeting did take place. He said that the partnership fund is managed by, the government, local customary groups, Freeport and local figures, among others.

He was reported to have said, "We were explaining Freeport’s community development programmes through our corporate social responsibility, including the provision of a voluntary fund for social development through an independent institution,” he told the Post over the phone.

Mindo added the program and the fund were audited annually by an independent auditor.

Besides the partnership fund, he went on, Freeport also provided a trusteeship fund of $1 million to the Amungme and Kamoro tribes as part of its land rights recognition.