PT Arun?s vice director attacked by unidentified gunmen

Two unidentified gun men attacked the car of PT Arun NGL Co?s vice director T. Fachruddin about two kilometers from the company?s industrial complex in Lhokseumawe on Tuesday afternoon, Koran Tempo reported on Wednesday.

The two gunmen threw a hand grenade into the blue Kijang van on the way to the company?s housing complex in Batupahat . The grenade, which fell under the driver?s seat, caused the drive to suffer a serious injury in his leg.

The company?s spokesman Irwandar confirmed the incident, saying that an army personnel who guarded the executive managed to shoot one of the gunmen but the later escaped despite the shooting. The local police?s chief Sunardi suspected that the attack was another form of terrors made to spread fears among the company?s top management.

ExxonMobil, the main gas supplier of PT Arun, suspended its operation for several months in 2001 following a number of attacks from alleged members of the GAM separatist group in the province.

The company resumed its operation early this year but terrors and attacks from unidentified gunmen continued in the troubled province including in areas near the two companies? industrial complex in Lhokseumawe. (*)