Papua: security forces fire on miners, killing one and wounding dozens
Employees at the Grasberg mine, which is owned by Freeport-McMora, want higher wages. Their protest turns violent when the company tried to bring in busloads of replacement workers. The mine is the largest in the world.
Timika (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Indonesian security forces fired on striking workers at the Freeport-McMoran's gold mine, the world’s largest, after a protest turned violent yesterday, killing one and injuring dozens more. Two container trucks heading to the mining town from a nearby port were set on fire by striking employees, angry after they learnt the United States-based company was bringing in replacement workers by the busload and moving them into their barracks. Black smoke billowed into the air, forcing some flight delays at the nearby airport. About 90 per cent of the miners are out on strike.
Employees at the mine, which is in Indonesia’s easternmost province, began their strike on 15 September demanding higher wages. Grasberg, which is the world's largest gold mine and the second biggest copper mine, has frequently seen protests over wages. Workers complain in fact that they are paid one tenth of what Freeport pays its miners in other countries.
The company has also come under heavy criticism in recent years for paying millions of dollars to the Indonesian military and police to handle security and has become the target of angry demonstrations because of alleged pollution and unfair distribution of profits.
When they were blocked by security forces, striking miners became angry, and began throwing rocks and yelling insults.
The troops responded with gunfire, killing one worker, sending another to hospital in critical condition and hurting scores of others, union leader Maniambo said.
Papua police spokesman Lt Col Wachyono said he had no alternative but to fire warning shots after workers became violent. “It was complete anarchy,” with strikers “attacking the police," he said.
This is the second strike at the Grasberg mine this year. Unions and management have restarted talks under government auspices.
Employees at the mine, which is in Indonesia’s easternmost province, began their strike on 15 September demanding higher wages. Grasberg, which is the world's largest gold mine and the second biggest copper mine, has frequently seen protests over wages. Workers complain in fact that they are paid one tenth of what Freeport pays its miners in other countries.
The company has also come under heavy criticism in recent years for paying millions of dollars to the Indonesian military and police to handle security and has become the target of angry demonstrations because of alleged pollution and unfair distribution of profits.
When they were blocked by security forces, striking miners became angry, and began throwing rocks and yelling insults.
The troops responded with gunfire, killing one worker, sending another to hospital in critical condition and hurting scores of others, union leader Maniambo said.
Papua police spokesman Lt Col Wachyono said he had no alternative but to fire warning shots after workers became violent. “It was complete anarchy,” with strikers “attacking the police," he said.
This is the second strike at the Grasberg mine this year. Unions and management have restarted talks under government auspices.
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