Freeport Employee Shot Dead at Grasberg Mine Site
A PT Freeport Indonesia employee died after being shot by unknown assailants in the disused Grasberg open-pit mine area in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua, on Wednesday morning at approximately 08:30 local time.
The Head of Tembagapura Police Sector, Assistant Police Commissioner Firman, confirmed that the victim was identified as Simson Mulia. At the time of the incident, the victim and his colleague, Abraham Marindal, were travelling in an LWB vehicle to inspect their work area at the disused Grasberg open-pit mine.
“The report we received indicated they were travelling to conduct a check of their work area,” Firman explained.
Simson sustained a gunshot wound to the right ear that penetrated through to the left ear. Abraham immediately jumped from the vehicle upon hearing the gunfire and seeing his colleague covered in blood, sustaining minor abrasions to the palms of his hands.
The victim’s body was transferred to AEA Hospital Tembagapura for medical management.
Following the incident, the Head of the Amole Task Force responsible for PT Freeport Indonesia security, Assistant Police Chief Yendri, immediately deployed personnel to the disused Grasberg open-pit mine area. “Task force members are currently at Grasberg under direct command of the Task Force Chief. We also have patrol and criminal investigation officers from Tembagapura Police Sector there,” Firman said.
He could not yet determine which group the shooter belonged to. “Current indications suggest an unknown assailant, but we have not yet established the perpetrator,” Firman stated.
Following the incident, security at the Freeport mining operations has been tightened across all areas, ranging from lowland regions including Amamapare Port, Mozes Kilangin Timika Airport, and Kuala Kencana, to highland areas including Tembagapura and Grasberg.
In February, a TNI member was also killed after being shot by an armed criminal group at Mile 50, Tembagapura District, whilst travelling from Timika to Tembagapura. In that incident, three firearms were seized by the separatist KKB (Free Papua Movement) group.