JAKARTA, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The building, where U.S.-based gold mine firm PT Freeport Indonesia located in Jakarta, was attacked on Thursday morning by scores of people from Papua province, where the company's operation takes place, Jakarta police spokesman I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana and Freeport Spokesman Sidarta told Xinhua.

    The attack was launched at 3.30 a.m. local time and windows on the first floor and the gate of the building were seriously damaged, Sidarta told Xinhua in telephone.

    When asked whether the target of the attack was PT Freeport, Spokesman Untung said "yes, that's the target."

    Indonesian Police spokesman Anton Bachrul Alam said the attack was conducted by over 50 university students from Papua province, who study in Jakarta.

    He said the cause of the attack related with the dispute in the company¡¯s compound in Papua on Wednesday, which caused the closure of the company. But he gave no further detail.

    Indonesian Mines and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Wednesday that the company stopped its production due to a blockade of a road to the operational location of the company.

    The minister said there was a conflict between the illegal miners and the community, which developed into a blockade. He said the government was investigating the case.

    PT Freeport Indonesia is a subsidiary of the Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. (FCX), one of the world's largest producers of copper and gold.

    The company's operations in Papua province, Indonesia, involves mineral exploration and development, mining and milling of ore containing copper, gold and silver and the worldwide marketing of concentrates containing those metals.

    The company operate through Contracts of Work with the government of Indonesia which, at the end of 2002, covered approximately 2.2 million acres.

    Indonesia is conducting an investigation on the company to prove an accusation of violation environmental law and tax payment, Purnomo said. The government may review Freeport contract of work if it found guilty. Enditem