Gun shootings continue near Freeport mining area

Gun shootings continued near the copper and gold mining area operated by PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua despite the tight security control imposed by the police following gun attacks on Saturday to Monday which killed an Australian, a security guard and a policeman.

Media Indonesia reported Wednesday that a bus carrying Freeport workers was shot by a sniper at Mile 49 area around 3.45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

No death or injuries were report in the latest shooting incident, but the paper said that gun shots hit the front part of the bus.

National Police spokesman Inspector General Nanan Soekarna confirmed the incident, saying the employee bus was hit by two gun shot.

Freeport spokesman, Mindo Pangaribuan, said the shooting incidents did affect activities of the mining company. ?Mining activities continue as usual because the shootings occurred far away from the mining area,? he said. (*)