Activist told to pay Newmont

Activist told to pay Newmont

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The Manado District Court ruled in
favor of mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in a defamation
case against an environmentalist on Tuesday.

In the verdict, judges Erna Matuseja, Maxi Sigarlaki, Lenny
Wati Mulasimadhi told defendant Rignolda Djamaluddin, chairman of
the Kelola Foundation in Manado, to pay the company US$750,000 in
nonmaterial damages, less than the $1 million demanded by the
company.

The court also ordered the defendant to pay Rp 5 million for
each day that he failed to pay the damages and to run apologies
to the company in local and national electronic media for three
consecutive days as well as place a quarter-page ad in Kompas,
Sinar Harapan, Komentar and Manado Post dailies for three
consecutive days.

Rignolda was charge with defamation after he accused Newmont
of polluting Buyat Bay.

Rignolda said would appeal the verdict. Buyat Pante residents
and university students attended the court proceedings in support
of Rignolda. Upset, they pelted the judges with eggs, stones and
mineral water bottles. -- JP