Attacks in Indonesia's Papua kill three, hit plane and Freeport convoy

JAKARTA, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Three people were killed and several injured in shootings in two areas of Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua, including near the operations of gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia, authorities said.

A pilot and co-pilot of a small commercial Smart Air plane died after assailants opened fire on the aircraft as it landed at Korowai airport in Boven Digoel, South Papua province, on Wednesday morning, police spokesman Cahyo Sukarnito said. The plane was carrying 13 passengers in addition to the two pilots.

When the shooting began, the pilots and passengers left the plane and fled into a nearby forest, he said. The pilot and co-pilot were killed, but all passengers were unharmed.

Cahyo said it was unclear who carried out the attack when asked whether Papuan rebel groups were suspected. Smart Air did not respond to a request for comment.

Separately, Indonesia's military said the Free Papua Movement rebel group attacked a convoy of PT Freeport Indonesia, part of U.S. miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc FCX.N, killing a soldier and injuring another officer and a Freeport employee.

Freeport Indonesia said the attack occurred on Wednesday afternoon on the main road to the mining town of Tembagapura, prompting the temporary closure of access to the area.

The rebel group claimed responsible for both attacks, its spokesperson Sebby Sambom said. "The plane was fired on and the pilot was killed because this airline often carried Indonesian security forces throughout Papua," Sambom said.

He did not provide details on the reason behind the attack on Freeport's convoy.

A low-level but increasingly deadly conflict between security forces and separatists has simmered in resource-rich Papua since the region was brought under Indonesian control in a 1969 vote overseen by the United Nations. That process remains disputed by independence supporters.