Central Papua Police Enhance Security Following Shooting at Freeport Mine

Nabire – Central Papua Police have heightened security measures at PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining complex in Mimika Regency, Papua Tengah, following a shooting incident that claimed the life of a worker in the mining area.

Jermias Rontini, the Central Papua Police Chief, stated on Thursday in Nabire that as a precautionary measure, police have intensified security protocols by strengthening patrols at several locations identified as high-risk in the vicinity of the mining area.

“Whilst we are not increasing security personnel, we are enhancing our security approach by intensifying patrols, particularly in areas we consider vulnerable,” Rontini said.

The police have also requested PT Freeport Indonesia to expand its surveillance facilities, including installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at several strategic locations. “We have asked Freeport to install additional CCTV to strengthen monitoring, especially at vulnerable points,” he stated.

Rontini noted that police cannot yet determine whether the gunman belongs to an armed criminal group associated with the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) or another armed faction. Investigations remain ongoing to identify the perpetrators of the shooting that occurred in the Grasberg mining area.

“We are continuing our investigation and analysis. We are still examining whether it was an armed KKB group or not, because many armed groups have emerged. We are attempting to identify which group carried out the shooting in the Freeport area,” Rontini explained.

He emphasised that surveillance technology such as CCTV cameras is considered essential to enhance security effectiveness.

The incident occurred when Simson Mulia, a worker employed by CV Mpeigelah at PT Freeport Indonesia, was fatally shot by an unknown assailant in the Grasberg open-pit mining area in Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, on Wednesday, 11 March, at approximately 08:30 Western Indonesian Time. Mulia was travelling to his work site with a colleague in an operational vehicle when he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the right ear that passed through to the left ear. His colleague managed to escape by jumping from the vehicle upon hearing the shots.

Police continue their investigation to identify the perpetrators and ensure security conditions in the mining area remain stable. The victim’s remains were flown to Jakarta on Thursday morning, 12 March, for burial in his hometown in Bandung, West Java.