Indonesian police suspect separatists in mine bombings

News from International Herald Tribune

The Associated Press
Monday, September 15, 2008

JAKARTA, Indonesia: Separatist rebels are being investigated in a string of bombings targeting a U.S. mining giant in Indonesia’s restive eastern Papua province, police said Monday. No one was wounded in the blasts, which followed written demands that the company’s gold mine be shut.

Two attacks were carried out late last week on a road leading to the massive mine operated by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and a third occurred late Sunday in an empty field near an international airport built by the New Orleans-based company.

“It is clear that an unidentified group wants to sabotage and terrorize vital (Freeport) installations in Papua,” deputy police chief Prasetyo, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name, told reporters in the port town of Timika. “But they failed.”

Six Arrested For Raising Rebellious Flag In Indonesian Province

news from Bernama
July 21, 2008 16:24 PM

JAKARTA, July 21 (Bernama) — Indonesian police have detained six people for raising up separatist flag in easternmost province of West Papua in Indonesia at the weekend, National police spokesman Sulistyo said Monday.

The spokesman said that the six out of 46 people questioned by the police on Saturday, had been detained and allegedly involved in the hoisting of the flag known as “Bintang Kejora or Morning Star” in the province.

“The six persons were accused of involving a subversive act, by raising the flag,” Sulistyo told China’s Xinhua news agency on Monday.