By Linda Young

Grasberg, Papua, Indonesia

At least nine people have been killed in two separate incidents of violence in the Papua region of Indonesia.

Six men were reportedly killed when an attempt to disperse people attending a pro-independence congress in Papua turned deadly.

The incident occurred shortly after Forkorus Yoboisembut was announced as president of the Democratic Republic of Papua.

Police moved in to scatter the people attending the congress when Yoboismbut began reading a declaration of independence. The police claim they were only firing in the air. However, six men were killed.

The other three men were killed by an unidentified gunman at the Grasberg copper and gold mine operated by Freeport-McMoran.

Thousands of miners have been striking over wages since Sept. 15 at the mine located in eastern Papua. It is one of the largest gold and copper mines in the world.

Only one of the men killed was a contractor, while the other two men were not employees.

Authorities are still investigating both incidents.

World - Violence Erupts at Papua Political Congress, Gold Mine | Global Viewpoint