Illegal miners, security forces clash at Freeport

Hundreds of illegal miners operating within Papuan copper and gold miner PT. Freeport Indonesia Contract of Work area on Tuesday clashed with security forces, leaving two employees injured, according to Papua police official.

Tempo Interaktif reported that a joint team which comprised of police, military, prosecutor officials, Freeport security and Mimika regency officials clashed with the miners after the team tried to stop illegal miners? activities.

According to the report, three illegal miners were injured in the incident.

Illegal miners erected barricade which barred Freeport?s employees movement from Tembagapura to Timika and the other way round. Police are still negotiating with illegal miners to open the barricade.

There?s no report of production disturbance. Freeport Indonesia is subsidiary of US miner Freeport McMoRan Copper& Gold. (*)