Buyat Bay polluted by harmful chemicals: Reports
Buyat Bay polluted by harmful chemicals: Reports
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
Three days after State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim
declared the level of mercury in Buyat Bay at a safe level, a
group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) submitted to
National Police Headquarters on Wednesday several scientific
reports to support their claim that at least four heavy metal
substances had significantly polluted the bay since 1996.
The NGOs, including the Indonesian Forum for the Environment
(Walhi), Network for Mining Advocacy (Jatam) and the Foundation
of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), demanded the
police to follow up their claim.
Walhi chairman Longgena Ginting said that according to all of
the reports, arsenic, mercury, antimony and manganese had
contaminated Buyat Bay since gold mining company PT Newmont
Minahasa Raya began operating and dumping its tailings there in
1996.
"The reports also state that the highest concentration of
these dangerous metals were found around the tailings pipe
outlet. It indicates that Newmont is the source of this
pollution," said Longgena.
The reports, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post,
indicate that the chemical content in sediment and fish exceed
the average safe level set by the World Health Organization.
According to the reports, arsenic in Buyat Bay sediment near
the tailings pipe outlet reached 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in
2001 and 1,831 ppm in 2004, while the safe level for sediment
according to the Canadian government is only 7.24 ppm.
According to Longgena, the level of mercury in the bay
sediment near the tailings pipe outlet in 2004 reached a maximum
level of 3.509 ppm, also over the WHO limit.
"We hope the reports can help guide the police when they
conduct a field investigation," said Longgena.
On Monday, Nabiel insisted there was no indication of
pollution in the area. He also said the 40 people who claimed to
be suffering from Minamata disease only had skin ailments.
Meanwhile, National Police chief of detectives Suyitno Landung
Sudjono said the police would study the report first.
"However, our team is currently working in the bay with people
from the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Health.
Anyone can present a report, but we won't make any conclusion
before our team finishes its investigation," said Suyitno.
The suspected pollution in Buyat Bay came under the spotlight
two weeks ago when several people living around the bay claimed
they had contracted Minamata disease and reported PT Newmont to
the police.
The police sent a team to the bay immediately.
PT Newmont has repeatedly denied it has polluted the bay,
saying it operated in accordance to the law.
The ministers of health and the environment announced that
from the preliminary check, it was clear that it was not Minamata
disease. No plan has been announced on the establishment of an
independent team to investigate the case.