Police begins Buyat laboratory tests<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police began on Monday the laboratory examination of water and
\nother samples taken from Buyat Bay, South Minahasa regency, North
\nSulawesi, with the results of the tests expected to only become
\navailable after 10 days.<\/p>\n
National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung
\nSudjono gave assurances that police analysts were conducting the
\ntests in accordance with the highest scientific standards.<\/p>\n
\"We gathered 10 different samples from 10 different locations
\nto make sure they represent the whole area that is believed to be
\ncontaminated. These are not simple tests so we will need 10 days
\nto complete the job,\" said Suyitno.<\/p>\n
Besides water samples, other samples include sediment taken
\nfrom the bay, rocks, sand and fish. The police also took samples
\nof nail and hair from 34 people living around the bay, Suyitno
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
For the sake of transparency, the police had invited non-
\ngovernmental organizations, local residents and representatives
\nof PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, the mining company accused of
\ncontaminating the bay, to witness the collection of the samples,
\nthe officer said.<\/p>\n
\"Experts helped us determine the locations where we should
\ntake samples. They also advised us as regards from how deep in
\nthe sea the samples should be taken and what things should be
\nsampled,\" said Suyitno.<\/p>\n
During the laboratory tests, the police will measure the
\nlevels of mercury, cyanide and other metals in the samples in
\norder to determine whether the bay is polluted and whether any
\npollution that is found could endanger human life.<\/p>\n
Suyitno said research reports submitted by a number of NGOs
\nwould be considered as additional information should the police
\nneed to pursue the case further.<\/p>\n
\"We will keep the results of all the tests, including those
\nconducted on four Buyat Bay people by MIPA UI in the case files.
\nBut we must first determine the level of contamination in the
\narea,\" said Suyitno.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the results of laboratory tests conducted
\nby the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia (MIPA UI) on four Buyat residents
\nrecently. It revealed that their blood mercury levels ranged
\nbetween 9.51 and 23.90 microns per liter (u\/L), surpassing the
\nmaximum acceptable limit of 8 u\/L.<\/p>\n
Suyitno also said the police were now examining complaints
\nfiled by the four residents against the health minister,
\nenvironment minister, and energy and mineral resources minister
\nfor allegedly giving false information to the public.<\/p>\n
\"We will question the witnesses before we think about
\nsummoning the three ministers. If we have to question them, then
\nwe will need the consent of the President. We will also check
\ntheir statements,\" said Suyitno.<\/p>\n
The three ministers said during a joint press conference in
\nJakarta last week that no heavy metal contamination had been
\nfound in the bay.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-begins-buyat-laboratory-tests-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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