20 Jul 2009

Indonesia authorities up security around Freeport mine in Papua

6:40 am on 20 July 2009

Indonesia has increased security near Freeport's giant Grasberg mine following a wave of attacks in the area in Papua.

Five shooting incidents in the past weeks between the town of Timika and the Grasberg mine left three people dead.

An Indonesian police spokesman says they have added security posts along the route from Timika to the Freeport mine area.

He also says they have increased police patrols and added more personnel.

A Freeport spokesman says its operations had not been affected, but hundreds of Freeport Indonesia workers have now been told not to travel along the road up to the Grasberg mine.

Meanwhile, Indonesian police and Australian Federal Police are investigating the attacks.