Police officers shot in latest ambush near Freeport mine

Violence erupted again near the home base of copper and gold mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua on Wednesday when two police officers were shot and wounded by unknown gunmen, according to National Police officials.

?The two officers were in a vehicle when they were shot around 3:10 p.m. local time [1:10 p.m. Jakarta time]. They were on the way from Timika to Tembagapura to deploy logistics for our officers who are securing the area there,? National Police spokesman Brig. Gen Sulistyo Ishak said as quoted by AFP.

He identified the two special force (Brimob) officers as Chief Brig. Jimmy Renhard, who was shot in the right knee, and First Brig. Sardis Rumaroban, who was shot in the left thigh.

The midafternoon attack occurred near the Mile 54 post of the Timika-Tembagapura road leading to the firm's Grasberg complex, near the site of three ambushes over the weekend that left three people dead, including an Australian and an Indonesian working for Freeport and a Brimob officer. Seven others were wounded.

Following the incident, the firm has barred its employees from travelling along the Tembagapura-Timika route since Saturday. Supplies of good to Tembagapura have also been suspended.

The firm however insisted that its operation remains unaffected by the incidents. (*)