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