Army rejects Freeport attack report<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The Indonesian military Monday dismissed as
\n"irrational" a U.S. newspaper report that senior officers may
\nhave planned an ambush in Papua province in August that killed
\ntwo Americans.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. J. Nachrowi said the military
\nwould investigate the Washington Post report alleging officers
\ndiscussed an operation near the U.S.-owned Freeport gold and
\ncopper mine.<\/p>\n
But he firmly rejected any suggestion the military planned an
\nAugust 31 attack that left three people dead.<\/p>\n
"We need to verify the truth of the information but it would
\nbe irrational to think that any institution in the military would
\ncarry out such a thing. This is something impossible," Nachrowi
\ntold AFP.<\/p>\n
"We consider this information as an attempt to discredit the
\nmilitary," he said, noting it would be against the interests of
\nthe military and Indonesia to stage the attack.<\/p>\n
Two U.S. teachers and an Indonesian colleague were killed
\nAugust 31 when gunmen opened fire on buses carrying them past the
\ngiant Freeport mine in Timika district.<\/p>\n
The daily, citing a U.S. government official and another US
\nsource, said senior Indonesian military officials had discussed
\nan unspecified operation against Freeport before the ambush.<\/p>\n
If confirmed, the news of the military's involvement could
\nseriously undermine U.S. efforts to resume full military ties
\nwith Indonesia. These were severed in 1999 amid military-backed
\nviolence in East Timor. -- AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/army-rejects-freeport-attack-report-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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