13 Oct 2011

Papua police to ask Freeport manager to meet strikers

1:24 pm on 13 October 2011

A Papuan human rights activist says the body of a Freeport miner shot by police in the Indonesian province on Monday has been taken to hospital for an autopsy.

Petrus Ayamiseba was killed and seven other men critically injured during a clash between police and the Grasberg gold and copper mine's striking workers.

Paula Makabory of the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights says Mr Ayamiseba's family left the provincial House of Representatives yesterday with his body after an almost three-day wait for an explanation of his death.

She says strikers have now met the national police representative Paulus Waterpauw as well as regional legislative representatives.

Ms Makabory says Mr Waterpauw told the strikers that with the backing of the Indonesian authorities he will ask Freeport's chief executive, Armando Mahler, to meet the strikers.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is demanding that punishments be handed down to police and other law enforcers reponsible for the shooting.