Freeport ops unaffected by tribal clash: Official

PT.Freeport Indonesia, a Papua copper and gold mining unit of New Orleans-based giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper& Gold Inc. said on Sunday that its mining operations is unaffected by recent tribal unrest that hit the city of Timika.

?Production is unaffected because our Grasberg mine is about 100 kilometers from Timika,? Freeport Indonesia?s Spokeman Boediman Moerdijat told Petrmindo.Com.

One source at the mine, however, said that the riot had caused disruption on personnel movement, as those who already completed their shift could not return to Timika and workers from Timika could not get up to the mine.

Tribesmen torched houses and attacked police station since Friday following the death of a respected tribal figure who was also a local policeman after a scuffle with a police chief.(godang)