Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika
The explosion at an electricity main station near an airport in Timika, Papua, on Sunday evening was part of a plan to sabotage vital installations belonging to PT Freeport Indonesia, a senior police officer said Monday.
Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Prasetyo said Monday the explosive planted at the gate of an electricity main station was similar to those detonated at the areas of Miles 39 and 50 on Thursday.
The main station is located near the Moses Kilangin International Airport, built by the copper and gold mining company, a subsidiary of mining giant Freeport McMoRan.
“We are not able to give detailed explanations yet as our officers are still investigating the explosions,” Prasetyo said.
“We will inform you of any new developments.”
The explosion was heard at about 10 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Jakarta time) on Sunday evening.
Nine police officers from the provincial police Gegana bomb squad have arrived in Timika as backup for the Mimika Police Gegana squad and the provincial police anti-terrorism unit, the 88th Special Detachment.
“As of Monday, no groups have claimed responsibility for any plan to sabotage or otherwise terrorize PT Freeport Indonesia,” Prasetyo said.
“We have yet to arrest anyone as we are still conducting our investigations.”
Prasetyo said a gas stove found in the blast site was used to heat a mortar shell that was placed near the main station.
The explosion did not disrupt any flights coming in and out of the airport.
A Garuda Indonesia flight arrived at the airport at 6:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. Jakarta time) from Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport and a Merpati Nusantara Airlines flight arrived at 10:30 a.m. from Papuan capital Jayapura.
Flights by Airfast Indonesia, chartered by Freeport, also were not disrupted.
The electricity plant near the airport channels electricity to Tembagapura, the airport, Kuala Kencana and Sheraton Timika, as well as to Freeport’s concessions.
Security in vital areas near the airport was heightened with Freeport security guards checking all vehicles entering the mining area and the hotel.
On Thursday, mortar-type bombs exploded at a gas station at Mile 50 while one of two explosives placed under a bridge crossing the Kabur river at Mile 39 also exploded. Neither explosion caused any significant damage.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. FX Bagus Eko said during a press conference Friday that Freeport security guards scoured the blast site near the bridge and found an exploded mortar and two gas stoves.
The mortar that exploded near the gas station was placed in a pile of rocks.
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