Illegal miner shot by IMK security

An illegal miner was shot with rubber bullet on his head by a policeman stationed at the mining site of gold mining company PT Indo Muro Kencana (IMK), a subsidiary of Australia?s Aurora Gold, in Puruk Cahu area, North Barito regency, Central Kalimantan.

The local Banjarmasin Post daily reported that the victim, Gunawan (19 years old) is now being treated at the Ulin Banjarmasin Hospital for serious injury.

The paper said that the incident occurred Saturday when policemen patrolling the IMK mining site sighted Gunawan and two friends were searching for gold at the company?s waste dumping site. Without any warning shot, the three policemen directly shot at the traditional miners. Rubber bullet hit Gunawan?s head, while two of his colleagues managed to escape.

The paper said that the policemen left the severely injured Gunawan at the dumping site without trying to bring the victim to hospital. But an hour latter, Gunawan?s colleagues returned to the scene and brought him to his family who latter put him in the hospital.

Central Kalimantan Police Chief Brig. Gen. Lodewyk was unable to reach for comment.

This kind of incident was not the first, the paper said. Policemen had shot several other illegal miners with one reported to be permanently crippled and one died, drown in the river when trying to escape the police.

Illegal mining activity has been rampant in several parts of the country. Tin mining company PT Timah has been nearly brought into bankruptcy because of rampant illegal tin miners at the company?s sites in the Banka-Belitun province.(*)