Govt, Newmont seek amicable deal<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is moving toward closure in the case against U.S.
\ngiant Newmont Mining Corp. subsidiary over the alleged pollution
\nof Buyat Bay in Sulawesi with the two parties seeking an out-of-
\ncourt settlement.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie said on
\nFriday the government might reduce the US$133.6 million in
\ndamages it is seeking from Newmont unit PT Newmont Minahasa Raya
\n(NMR) should both sides strike a deal outside the court.<\/p>\n
"We are not going to drop the criminal charges against
\nNewmont, but for the civil lawsuit there is an understanding
\nbetween us that we should explore ways to settle it out of the
\ncourt," said Aburizal.<\/p>\n
Aburizal was speaking following an overnight meeting between
\ngovernment officials and Newmont executives. Aside from Aburizal,
\nAttorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh was attending the closed-door
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
The meeting was seen as another major blow to
\nenvironmentalists after the Constitutional Court cleared the way
\non Thursday for mining companies to operate in protected forests.<\/p>\n
Abdul Rahman admitted that the meeting was aimed at discussing
\na settlement of the lawsuit. But he refused to elaborate, asking
\nthe press to seek the content of the meeting through Aburizal.<\/p>\n
Police named six Newmont executives suspects in the alleged
\npollution case, but prosecutors in North Sulawesi released five
\nof them, leaving the company CEO Richard Ness the only suspect.<\/p>\n
Newmont, which stopped operations last year, is accused of
\npolluting Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi where it dumped its
\ntailings produced by its gold mine near the area. The government
\nalso filed a civil lawsuit against the company.<\/p>\n
Newmont has denied the accusation but has admitted that it
\nreleased 17 tons of waste mercury into the air and 16 tons into
\nthe water over five years, but said that these releases were well
\nwithin government regulated standards.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the out-of-court settlement was intended to
\nprevent the company from pulling out from the country, Aburizal
\nsaid it was for the benefit of both sides.<\/p>\n
"It is not because we are afraid. We are just concerned about
\na possible defeat in court. We should also think what will happen
\nif we win," said Aburizal, adding that there would be a series of
\nnegotiations in the upcoming weeks.<\/p>\n
The government has said the lawsuit was aimed at seeking
\ndamages to restore the environment in Buyat Bay and to relocate
\nits residents, while the criminal prosecution was to deter those
\nbreaking the law on the environment.<\/p>\n
Newmont's director of corporate and business development
\nRobert Humberson refused to comment on the substance of the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
"The process is still under way. But Newmont is hopeful of
\ncontinuing the negotiations with the government," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-newmont-seek-amicable-deal-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}