Protests against Freeport’s Grasberg mine turn deadly (March 17, 2006)

Vancouver – The latest in a continuing series of protests against Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold’s (FCX-N) Grasberg gold-copper mine, in the eastern Indonesian province of Papua, has escalated in its violence leading to the death of four during recent demonstrations.

Three policemen and a soldier were killed by protestors opposed to the massive mine and involved in a long-running separatist movement in the region.

Hundreds of people blockaded a main road outside of the university in the provincial capital of Jayapura. When police attempted to break up the protest, a group of the demonstrators attacked the policemen and soldier, bludgeoning four of them to death with rocks and knives. A large number of others were injured in the frenzy.

Grasberg is one of the world’s largest gold and copper producers with annual output of about 3.4 million oz. of gold plus 1.7 billion pounds (766,000 tonnes) of copper. The massive open pit operation processes roughly 220,000 tonnes of ore per day with an average grade of about 1.7 grams gold per tonne and 1.2% copper. The operation also produces several million oz. of by-product silver annually.The Grasberg orebody hosts proven and probable reserves of 2.8 billion tonnes grading 1.07% copper, 0.92 gram gold per tonne and 4 grams silver per tonne.

The opposition separatist movement in Papua province (previously called Irian Jaya), seeking to free itself from Jakarta’s rule, has long opposed Freeport’s mine citing limited benefits to locals and has made accusations of environmental damage.