Now, for the action<\/p>\n
Except for the rows of shabby fishermen's shacks along the
\nwaterfront, Buyat Bay, with its sandy beaches and surrounding
\ngreenery, could have been the stuff that picture postcards are
\nmade of. Lately, however, tragedy, worsened by controversy, has
\ncast an ugly shadow over this deceptively looking idyllic spot
\nabout 110 kilometers northwest of North Sulawesi's provincial
\ncapital, Manado. Reports reaching Jakarta during the past week
\nthat at least one child has died and more than 100 local
\nresidents are suffering from metal poisoning have shocked the
\nnation and raised serious questions about the government's
\ncommitment with regard to enforcing environmental safety
\nstandards throughout the country, especially in areas where heavy
\nindustries operate.<\/p>\n
Minamata disease, an incurable life destroying affliction
\nnamed after Minamata Bay in Japan, where it was first identified
\nin the mid-1950s, has once again created widespread speculation
\nin Indonesia. For years, it seems, people at and around Buyat Bay
\nhave noticed outbreaks of a strange disease, marked by itching
\nand heavy skin rashes and swellings on various parts of the body.
\nHowever, it was not until recently that the occurrence began to
\ntake alarming proportions. Local health workers identified the
\nmost recent outbreak as Minamata disease, though tests on victims
\nhave yet to prove this, and concern quickly began to spread,
\nreaching far beyond the area. As a consequence, people elsewhere
\nin the area have since begun to shun fish from the Buyat area,
\nthreatening the very livelihoods of Buyat fishermen.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists have been quick to point their finger at PT
\nNewmont Minahasa Raya, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Newmont
\nMining Corporation, which operates a gold mine in the area. After
\nall, mercury, a metal most often blamed for causing the disease,
\nis used in the extraction of gold. Residents and a number of non-
\ngovernmental organizations in the province have since pressed
\ncharges against both the company and the minister of health for
\nalleged neglect in upholding environmental safety standards.
\nNewmont Minahasa Raya, for its part, has denied the charges and
\nput the blame instead on the scores of local residents who
\nillegally pan for gold in the area. The argument has not yet been
\nresolved. Meanwhile, a number of Buyat residents arrived in
\nJakarta over the past week, both to press their case with the
\nappropriate authorities and to seek medical treatment.<\/p>\n
Although official laboratory test results are still being
\nawaited, to assuage undue fears, Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi
\nmade it clear in a statement last week that the four Buyat
\npatients undergoing treatment in Jakarta displayed no symptoms of
\nMinamata disease, which mainly affects the nervous system. From
\nwhat can be observed so far, however, the four Buyat patients
\nhave severe skin rashes, according to the minister.<\/p>\n
In the final instance, of course, only laboratory tests can
\ndetermine the true nature of the Buyat outbreak with any degree
\nof certainty. This, however, must not be taken to mean that the
\nBuyat disaster should be taken lightly. Other cases of metal
\npoisoning have been reported, for example in the vicinity of
\nKayan River in East Kalimantan, and most recently in Jakarta Bay,
\nwhere thousands of fish died due to the contaminated water of the
\nbay.<\/p>\n
An important point to note in all these cases is that, so far,
\nthe public has been given no official explanation as to the
\nnature of the disasters, and what action has been taken to remedy
\nthe contamination and prevent future instances of pollution. In
\nthe case of Buyat, identifying the culprit in order to be able to
\ntake the appropriate measures is no doubt important. As far as
\nthe local population is concerned, however, it is much more
\nimportant to identify the contaminating agents present in the bay
\nso that action can be taken without delay. As things stand at
\npresent, the disaster is damaging the population not only in
\nterms of health, but financially as well.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/now-for-the-action-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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