24 Nov 2017

West Papuans call for closure of Freeport gold mine

From , 4:04 pm on 24 November 2017

Thousands of West Papuans have demonstrated in Jayapura, calling for the closure of the massive Freeport gold mine in Mimika regency

They're also demanding Indonesian security forces withdraw from the area around the mine where a standoff continues with the West Papua National Liberation Army, or TPN.

Johnny Blades with this report.

Tthis photograph taken on August 16, 2013 shows a general view of the Freeport McMoRan's Grasberg mining complex, one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines located in Indonesia's remote eastern Papua province.

This photograph taken on August 16, 2013 shows a general view of the Freeport McMoRan's Grasberg mining complex, one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines in Indonesia's remote eastern Papua province. High in the snow-capped mountains, the sight of tribesmen roaming in loincloths contrasts sharply with that of miners using hi-tech machinery to extract gold and copper ore at a huge US-owned facility in remote Indonesia Photo: AFP/Olivia Rondonuwu