ABC AUSTRALIA, 05/09/2002 05:04:26
Motives for Papua killing unclear: police
Indonesia's national police chief says it's too early to know if the killers of two U-S
teachers and an Indonesian in remote Papua province were politically motivated or
simply criminals.
Although some government officials have pointed to separatist rebels as the likely
culprits, Da'i Bachtiar has told a news conference that the identity of the killers is still
being investigated.
He was speaking on a visit to the area where gunmen ambushed a convoy of vehicles
carrying mostly American teachers and their families, near the world's biggest gold
and copper mine run by U-S based Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold.
The United States has denounced the killings and urged the government to catch and
punish those responsible.
In addition to the three killed, at least seven foreigners and three Indonesians were
wounded.
The teachers worked at an international school serving expatriate staff at the mine.
05/09/2002 05:04:26 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
