UPDATE 3.45pm: POLICE have arrested 17 people near a massive gold mine where Melbourne man Drew Grant died in a hail of bullets.
As a private funeral was held for the Australian miner in Brighton in Melbourne’s southeast today, a police official has been quoted by Associated Press as saying 17 suspects had been held in connection with the attack at the world’s biggest gold mine.
West Papua police chief Bagus Ekodanto told the agency the suspects were questioned in relation over the ambushes last week at Freeport's operations.
Mr Ekodanto said the suspects had been arrested on Monday not far from the mine.
At least 15 people, mostly police officers, were killed or wounded in attacks over a five-day period from July 11.
Grant, 29, of Melbourne, worked for the US-based mining giant Freeport McMoRan.
He was shot as he travelled in a car with four others, including another Australian, on a road between Tembagapura and Timika early on Saturday.
It is understood Mr Grant was heading with colleagues for a golf game.
A mate has told of the terrifying attack at a West Papua gold mine.
Lukan Biggs was driving the car when rebels opened fire.
Police said Mr Grant, who became a father nine weeks ago, was shot five times in the neck and chest from about 25m.
Mr Biggs has told friends the rebels opened fire without warning on Saturday.
"He (Mr Biggs) is pretty shaken up," a friend said.
"I know he is physically OK, but he was very worried. He just wants to sort things out over there with the police and everything."
An armed clash yesterday near the same spot left one security guard dead and five injured.
Mr Ekodanto has previously said rebels using military-issue weapons planned the ambush that killed Mr Grant, a project manager at Freeport, reputed to be the world's biggest gold mine.
Indonesian authorities have denied suggestions military or police officials may have been involved in the attacks.
"The shooting was planned," he said. "(It's) clear they were using weapons belonging to the police or the military."
Mr Grant's Melbourne family were in shock yesterday. He had only been back in Indonesia for a week after visiting his nine-week-old daughter.
He was a doting father to baby Ella and a devoted husband to Lauren, his brother Nick said, adding that Drew loved his job.
"Everyone's just in shock because it's so sudden. I don't think they've comprehended yet what's actually happened."
Mr Biggs is an electrician at Freeport. A popular cricketer who once played for Templeton in the Ringwood league, he has been working at the US-owned mine for five years.
He was driving to a golf club on Saturday with his Indonesian wife and three others when ambushed. Only Mr Grant was struck by bullets.
Two Australian Federal Police officers have joined 40 Indonesian police and forensic specialists investigating the ambush.
Freeport has been a source of friction, with locals angered at the outflow of profits to foreign investors, while they remain poor.
The mine has been targeted by arson, roadside bombs and blockades in the poor and remote mountain region since the ‘70s.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25814541-663,00.html
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