Three workers of PT Freeport Indonesia killed by unidentified gunmen

Three workers of Papua-based copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) were killed and 11 people were wounded after being shot by unidentified men on a site in Mimika regency in Papua on Saturday, PTFI spokesman Siddartha Moersjid told Petromindo.com on Sunday.

The three people, two of whom were Americans and one was Indonesian, were teachers of PTFI?s International School in Timika, the capital of Mimika regency. Meanwhile, nine of the 11 people were foreigners, Siddartha said.

Siddartha said the bloody incident had occurred at the so-called Mail Point 62 in Mimika when the truck and two vans carrying the 14 people were traveling from Tembagapura to Timika. The cars belonged to PTFI.

He said some of the wounded people had been evacuated to Jakarta and Australia.

Siddartha said security had been increased at PTFI?s operation sites in Mimika following the incident. ?We still have no idea about who the attackers were. So far, none has admitted responsibility for the incident,? Siddartha said.

Siddartha further said PTFI?s projects in Mimika were continuing normally.

PTFI, a subsidiary of world mining giant Freeport-McMoran, operates a huge copper and gold mine in Timika.

Last December, two researchers of PTFI were wounded by unidentified gunmen on their way to a place in Mimika to carry out research activities.

The gunmen were believed to be followers of Free Papua Movement (OPM). (alex)