Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Indonesian forces rescue Freeport workers from Papua rebels
In a remote and mountainous part of Indonesia called Papua, some workers from a big mining company called Freeport were fixing an electric tower.
Suddenly, rebels surrounded them and scared them by firing shots.
The rebels want Papua to become independent from Indonesia.
The Indonesian military came to help and used drones to bring food and medicine to the workers.
After three days, the military safely rescued all 18 workers.
The area is very poor but has a lot of valuable resources like gold and copper.
The military had to be very careful because the terrain was difficult and dangerous.
18 Freeport Indonesia workers were rescued by Indonesian military forces after being surrounded by rebels in Papua.
The rebels, identified as the Free Papua Movement, intimidated the workers and fired shots to scare them.
The military used drones to deliver food and medicine to the stranded workers before evacuating them to safety.
The rescue operation took place in extremely difficult terrain with a high level of threat and time constraints.
Papua is one of Indonesia's poorest regions despite being resource-rich, home to Freeport's Grasberg mine, one of the world's largest gold and copper mines.
- Who
- 18 workers of Freeport Indonesia and Indonesian military forces
- What
- Rescue of workers from a rebel siege
- When
- January 15, 2024
- Where
- Tembagapura district, Central Papua province, Indonesia
- Why
- Workers were surrounded by armed rebels of the Free Papua Movement
- Location
- Tembagapura district, Central Papua province
- Number of Workers Rescued
- 18
- Rebel Group
- Free Papua Movement
- Duration of Siege
- 3 days
- Company Involved
- Freeport Indonesia
- Mine Location
- Grasberg mine
- Mine Type
- Gold and copper