Thousands of mine workers protest at Freeport mine in Indonesia

[News_Editor]

Thousands of mine workers protest at Freeport mine in Indonesia

2011-10-11 04:45:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

TIMIKA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least seven people were shot on Monday when thousands of mine workers rallied and protested in the Indonesian province of Papua, officials said. One person has been killed.

Around 10,000 employees of Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc's Grasberg Mine, which is located near the Puncak Jaya mountain in Papua province, rallied in the city of Timika, demanding higher salaries and welfare benefits. According to reports, workers became angry after not being allowed to collect their personal belongings from their barracks.

During the massive protest, security forces opened fire against the crowds, killing 35-year-old Peter Ayamiseba at the Gorong-Gorong Bus Terminal in Timika. Papua Police Public Relations chief Commander Wachoyono said the fatal victim was employed at PT Sari Utama Food, which is a food supplier for the mining company.

Wachoyono also confirmed that a Mobile Brigade member was critically injured, ruling out rumors that one security personnel had died. At least six other protesters were also shot and transported to area hospitals for treatment, although their conditions were not immediately known.

The violent incident triggered further outrage and angry crowds burned three containers in the area, where tensions remain high. PT Freeport, however, has not responded to the incidents nor the demands of its employees.

Indonesia's Human Rights National Commission, meanwhile, said a clear legal process must be carried out in order to determine whether the shooting took place according to law, according to local media.

Since mid-September, a large number of employees at the mine have been on a strike to demand a salary increase. According to reports, the workers currently earn between $1.5 to $3 an hour. They have since refused a 25 percent increase which had been offered by the company.

Freeport Indonesia's Labor Union chief Virgo Solossa has previously argued that out of Freeport's eight companies, its Indonesian unit is the biggest contributor. However, workers around the world are paid between $15 and $30, which is around ten times more than those at the Grasberg Mine.

Grasberg Mine, the world's largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine, employs some 19,500 people. In 2006 it produced 610,800 tons of copper, 58,474,392 grams (2,062,623 ounces) of gold and 174,458,971 grams (6,153,859 ounces) of silver.

In July, a 7-day strike led to company losses of over 15,000 tons of copper and 1,700,971 grams (60,000 ounces) of gold. According to the company, each day of strike causes production decreases by about 3 million pounds of copper and 141,747 grams (5,000 ounces) of gold.

The mine has been linked to regional friction as locals argue that only a small fraction of the mine's revenue goes to the workers and regional development. Furthermore, friction has also been linked to the mine's environmental impact as it is located in what used to be a small equatorial mountain glacier on the high point of Puncak Jaya, Indonesia's highest mountain.

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