Separatist group denies rumors of planning an attack on Freeport

A separatist group called the ?Satgas Koteka? denied rumors that they were planning to attack the gold and copper giant mining operation PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, West Papua.

?I don?t know where the issue comes from. But it is clear that we have no plans to attack Freeport,? commander of the group?s Timika unit Fidel Videlis Zongganau told the local Cendrawasih Post daily.

Fidel suspected that the rumors were deliberately made to allow the military to increase their personnel and expand operation in the Timika area.

Timika Police chief Sumarjiyo earlier said that separatist groups were planning to attack Freeport mining compound in the area early next month. He said that the police had beefed up security in the area together with the military to anticipate the attack.

The West Papua Military Commander Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon, and provincial Police Chief I Made Mangku Pastika also confirmed that local rebel groups planned an attack on Freeport.

Freeport is owned by U.S.-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold.

Elsewhere, Fidel was also certain that the Free Papua Movement (OPM) separatist group has no plan to attack Freeport. He said that OPM would inform him if the group plans to make an attack.

Separatists groups in the West Papua province had intensified pressure to demand a separation from Indonesia.(*)