Indonesia Hunting Attackers in Mine Compound in Papua

2010-01-25 17:16:34 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhang Xu
Indonesian Minister for Politics, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto said on Monday that soldiers and police had pursued the gunmen, who launched fresh shooting attacks on employees of U.S. miner Freeport in Papua on Sunday wounding at least seven people, and would intensify patrol across the mine compound.



The Sunday's attack on two vehicles carrying workers of U.S. miner Freeport McMorant Cooper and Gold Inc's has followed a series of shooting attacks on the firm.



The minister said that the authorities would boost security on the mine by intensifying patrol and escorted on the convoys of vehicles carrying workers.



However, the Suyanto said that the condition of the field in the easternmost of Indonesia, Papua, with large and mountainous, had hampered authorities in upholding security.



"The condition of the fields there is very difficult for us (to chase) small groups with high mobility. But this does not mean that we give up. The pursue (on the Sunday's attackers ) has been carrying out," he told reporters at the State Palace here.



The minister admitted that the killing of commander of separatist Free Papua Movement (Organisasi papua Merdeka or OPM) Kelly Kwalik earlier this month did not weakened the group.



"Security disturbance still exist. We must be cautious on it," said Suyanto.



OPM has used both guerrilla and diplomatic ways to achieve its goal.



Freeport has been targeted by a series of shootings since July 2009 that have killed three people, including a 29 year-old Australian worker, a policeman and a guard and wounded more than 20 others.