Police detain three over attack on Newmont

Police said Tuesday they were questioning three people suspected of setting fire to an eastern Indonesian mining exploration camp that belongs to Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), a subsidiary of US mining giant Newmont Mining Corp., agency reported.

The assailants were demanding compensation for its gold and copper exploration activities in a remote part ofSumbawa Island, police say. No one was reported injured in the blaze, but the company suspended exploration activities there.

Police chief Gen. Sutanto told reporters that three local people were being questioned over the attack, which comes amid rising anger at Western mining and energy interests in Indonesia. Sutanto gave no more details.(*)