Cars torched at Freeport?s operations HQ

A group of unidentified people went on rampage at PT. Freeport Indonesia operations headquarter in Tembagapura, Papua, Saturday, torching at least 6 of the company?s light vehicles, a Petromindo source said on Saturday.

Freeport Indonesia spokesperson Siddharta Moersjid confirmed the incident. ?The incident happened at 5 PM local time,? he said. He, however, said that the company?s mining operations were unaffected by the incident. He did not give further detail, saying he had not yet received full report from the mine.

Freeport Indonesia is a subsidiary of US of US copper and gold miner Freeport Mc-MoRan Copper& Gold.

Last February, the company, which runs one of the world?s biggest copper and gold mining complex, was forced to halt operations after local people which conducted traditional mining activities within the company?s working area clashed with security forces. The miners, with the back up of locals blockaded the mine?s main road and the company?s mining operations stopped for about a week. (godang)