Timika – Workers at Papua's giant Grasberg mine operated by US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan have not returned to work, police in the Indonesian province said on Thursday, despite previous announcements that the crippling, three-month strike had ended.

"The workers are still striking in Check Point 1, though the agreement letter has been signed on Dec.12," Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, the deputy chief of Papua Police, told state news agency Antara on Thursday.

He said the workers were not returning to work because the company failed to guarantee that thousands of workers laid-off by by Freeport subcontractors Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia and Pangansari Utama would be rehired.

"It should have been included in the agreement signed in Jakarta and should have been outlined in a joint agreement letter that should be signed by the government," Waterpauw said.

The agreement, signed on Dec. 12 in Jakarta by the workers union and representative from the company, gave workers a 37 percent wage increase as well as housing allowance, enhancements to shift and work location incentives, educational assistance and retirement savings plan.

Papua Police, meanwhile, say they plan to summon a number of strike organizers as part of ongoing criminal investigations into the strikes. Freeport Worker Union (SPSI) board members have reportedly been banned from leaving Timika and dozens of members have been summoned for questioning.

Waterpauw said the aspects of the strike had disrupted the public interest and breached the law. The board had also incited workers not to return to work, despite the agreement, he said.

"What they have been done can be categorized as criminal," Waterpauw said. He said that if the workers at Check Point 1 refused to move, police would use force to disperse them. (Antara/JG)