Angry residents damage Freeport?s office in Papua

A group of people destroyed the main office of gold and copper mine giant PT Freeport Indonesia in Kuala Kencana, Mimika in the Papua province during a prayer service on Friday, Kompas reported on Saturday.

Freeport?s spokesman Ramdani Sirait said that the angry mob also set fires and destroyed cars and motorcycles parked in front of the office when family, relatives and friends held prayer service to mourn the death of the local staff David Beanal, the daily said.

Beanal, who was also one of respected leaders of the Amungme tribe, died in Jakarta on Tuesday due to meningitis.

Denny Siregar, the chief of the local police said that the incident occurred after the residents and the representatives of the company failed to reach an agreement on issues related to the death. He, however, did not elaborate on the issues being discussed.

He said the situation was under control after the police came to the scene to disperse the angry residents. (*)