Hi Newly, I've been following this story for almost two weeks and it now the gov't is getting involved, it seems that the bias has started turning against NEM.
Not meant as FUD, but as a heads up to a possible problem for one of your stalwarts.
RENO (Mineweb.com) -- Indonesia's House of Representatives Tuesday joined the brouhaha over the alleged pollution of Buyat Bay by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya.
Meanwhile, a marine toxics expert with the Sam Ratulangie State University in Manado, North Sulawesi, claimed that Newmont Minahasa ignored several warnings about the potential environmental dangers of its tailings.
The House Committee for Energy, Mining and the Environment this week began its hearings into the investigation of the pollution case, which allegedly has hurt the health of a number of residents of Buyat Bay. Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Resources, the Office of the State Minister of the Environment, and the National Police presented their results of their investigations of the matter. The National Police are the sole agency to have found excessive arsenic and mercury levels in Buyat Bay. The Ministry of Health has yet to present their findings.
The House Committee has asked the Indonesian government to cover the medical expenses of Buyat residents now being treated in Jakarta, and to study the possible relocation of Buyat villagers to another area. Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries recently announced that the government is considering relocating hundreds of fishermen from the bay, or giving them an option to use more modern equipment that would allow them to travel further from the coast to fish.
The legislators suggested that all parties let the police handle the pollution case. The police said they have questioned 60 witnesses including four Newmont executives, two from Minahasa Raya and two from PT Newmont in Jakarta. None of the executives are considered suspects in the investigation into alleged environmental crimes.
Several local people have complained about chemical contamination in the bay, which is located near Minahasa Raya. Many people surrounding the bay make a living from fishing. A number of local residents claim to be suffering from illnesses such as skin ailments, lumps, and painful headaches. National Police are investigating the source of the contamination to determine who is responsible for the pollution.
Chief of Detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung Sujono said witnesses' statements and laboratory test results will serve as crucial evidence to file criminal charges against the responsible parties. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Government has formed its own joint team to conduct a study of Buyat Bay.
In a related development, Rizald Max Rompas, a toxics expert from the Sam Rantulangie State University said 1994 research showed that mercury level was increasing in Buyat Bay when Newmont began its exploration in the area. After Newmont had been mining for two years in the area, a 1998 study found the mercury levels were still rising. Rizald claimed that Newmont and local government were warned about the contamination of fish. However, he asserted that the symptoms exhibited by ill Buyat Bay residents actually provides more evidence of arsenic contamination rather than mercury.
Newmont has denied using mercury in its chemical processes. The company has suggested the mercury actually comes from illegal miners, and that the government was repeatedly warned about the situation years ago. Nevertheless, Rizald said it is possible the mercury could be found naturally in soil.
Rizald also objected to the submarine tailing disposal system used by Newmont. He claimed he warned the government several years ago about the hazards of utilizing submarine tailing disposal in a tropical country such as Indonesia.
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