The Bush administration has determined Indonesian soldiers murdered three teachers, including two Americans, last August. The attack occurred while the teachers were returning from a picnic in West Papua. The New York Times reported the military may have been trying to send a message to the U.S. company Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, which operates one of the world’s largest copper and gold mining operations there in the world. The company, for which the teachers taught, had recently reduced its payments to area soldiers. The Indonesian military had accused rebels of the murders. This news comes as the Bush administration tries to restore military ties to Indonesia.