24 Oct 2017

Grasberg mine divestment could fuel violence

From , 6:03 am on 24 October 2017

An academic says recent violence near Papua's Grasberg gold mine could be connected to plans to divest half of the American owned operation to Indonesian entities.

One police officer was killed and two others injured while hunting for gunmen who shot at mine workers on Saturday. (21/10)

The police have blamed a group called the KKB, which anthropology professor Eben Kirksey says could be a military backed, separatist militia.

The mine has been the scene of violence for decades and Professor Kirksey told Ben Robinson Drawbridge past agitators had a variety of motives.

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Photo: wikicommons