Nethy Darma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Papua military commander Maj. Gen. Azmyn Yusri Nasution called on the public Thursday to stop speculating about the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in a series of attacks on US-based gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia.

"It is easy to accuse the TNI of perpetrating the attacks. Such baseless speculation should stop immediately. People know it is not just the TNI that provides weapons training," Nasution said.

Security remains fragile in the Freeport mining area in Mimika regency following the latest shooting incident targeting Freeport employees Wednesday.

He said there were rumors the military had been seeking payment from Freeport, one of the world's biggest gold miners, for security.

"Whose money is at stake? If we could choose, we would rather stay with our families than conduct security operations in Freeport area, where the weather can sometimes drop to 5 degree Celsius," Nasution said.

For ongoing operations in the regency, soldiers receive Rp 25,000 and officers Rp 30,000 plus three meals every day each, Nasution said, with the costs covered by the TNI.