Police Injured In Shootings Near Freeport Mining Site
Wednesday, 15 July, 2009 | 22:03 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Tensions remained around Freeport's gold mine site in Mimika, Papua Province as gun exchange occurred on Wednesday between Indonesian police and unidentified gunmen. Five police reportedly wounded, however Jakarta said there were only two police injured in the incident.

The five police were injured when a unit were sent to comb the road near the mining site were ambushed. The unit was sent to clear the area of security threats before the Secretary of Coordinating Minister of Politics Law and Security Lieutenant General Roberto Romulo inspect the area.

The group of officials were initially planned to inspect the area from the air but poor weather conditions cancelled the plan.

Local police could not be confirmed over the incident by Tempo correspondent in the province, however Deputy Chief of Public Relation Division of the National Police Brigadier General Sulistyo Ishak, told Tempo in a telephone interview there were only two personnels shot in the incident.

The series of incidents in Papua started over the weekend as gunmen ambushed a vehicle carrying several Freeport staff at mile 51 on Friday (10/7) night, killing one australian engineer. On Sunday (12/7) ambush and gun exchange killed two Indonesian police personnels near the site of early ambush which killed the Australian engineer. One of the killed police personnels was hired by Freeport as security personnel to secure the gold mine area.

TJAHJONO EP | TITO SIANIPAR