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Four killed in Indonesia mine protests

Mar. 17, 2006 at 4:34AM

Three policemen and a soldier were killed and 57 people arrested in Indonesia's Papua province during protests demanding the closure of a U.S.-owned mine.
      Hundreds of demonstrators took part in a third day of violent protests Thursday, calling for the Freeport mine, reportedly the world's largest gold and copper mine, to be shut down, World News Australia reported Friday.
      Police said the protesters bludgeoned the four victims to death with rocks and knives. At least 19 policemen and eight protesters were injured and taken to hospitals in the provincial capital of Jayapura.
      Riot police fired tear gas and charged with batons to break up the crowd, and protesters responded by hurling rocks at the police.
      The killings will heighten tensions in the province, which is home to violent separatist rebels who have been repressed by Indonesian security forces.
      The rebels say the mine symbolizes the unfair distribution of resources between Jakarta and Papua.
     

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