700 Freeport workers pray for peace

(Jakarta Post) Mimika — About 700 workers from US-based gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia held a mass prayer Wednesday, calling for peace after a shooting incident broke months of calm at their workplace in January.

The gathering, organized by Tonggoi Papua labor union, took place at the Tembagapura stadium near Mile Post 86 of the access road connecting the company’s Grassberg mine and Timika.

Tonggoi Papua secretary-general Luther Kogoya told The Jakarta Post the event would not affect the company’s production.

A group of unidentified gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Freeport employees and security officers, seriously wounding three people, including an American employee.

Papua Police have yet to capture the suspected attacker.