Freeport says operations remain normal despite hostage crisis

Petromindo|Thomas

Gold and copper giant PT Freeport Indonesia said that the hostage crisis near its concession in Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Papua Province, has not affected the running of its operations.

PT Freeport Spokesman Riza Pratama was quoted by kontan.co.id as saying Monday that the company?s operations remain normal. He, however, said that the company has increased the number of security personnel at its operations.

Armed separatist group reportedly has taken hostage around 1,300 people in two villages since November 5. The police have been engaged in negotiations with the separatists, reportedly from the Free Papua Movement (OPM), demanding for the release of the hostages. Reports also said on Monday that some PT Freeport workers were among of the hostages.

?Mining operations have not affected by the presence of the armed (separatist) group,? Riza said, but added that the company is concernced with the escalation of security condition near its mining operations.

In October of this year, a series of shooting incidents in Tembagapura, killed one member of the police?s mobile brigade unit. In September, PT Freeport was forced to temporarily shut down its Timika mining road following shooting incident by an unidentified people at a convoy of three company vehicles, but there were no fatalities. (*)