'Experts back findings in Buyat case'

'Experts back findings in Buyat case'

Abdul Khalik/Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Police claim that at least six experts from different offices
have supported their finding that Buyat Bay in Minahasa, North
Sulawesi, was polluted with heavy metals.

But they did not clarify whether these experts fingered U.S.-
run mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya as the cause.

"Six experts, including some from the State Ministry of the
Environment (KLH), the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries and the
Ministry of Health, have said the bay was polluted," police
director of special crimes Brig. Gen. Suharto said at National
Police Headquarters.

Newmont management remained adamant on Wednesday the company's
operations had never polluted the bay. Police have named six of
its high-ranking managers suspects in the pollution case.

Chris Anderson, group executive in charge of external
relations and social responsibility for Newmont's global
operations, said Newmont had met all government regulations and
had operated in accordance with international standards.

"We never polluted the bay ... if the police feel there's
enough evidence for the case to proceed, that doesn't necessarily
mean that we are guilty as charged ... it is up to the court to
determine liability and guilt," Anderson said.

He said the company would like to put its side of the story to
the police and the public, and only through questioning the
claims would the truth would be revealed.

Police have declared six Newmont employees, including
president director Richard Ness, as suspects in the Buyat case.
Police interviewed site manager Bill Long on Wednesday and are
planning to question Ness on Thursday.

Suharto said studying results of laboratory tests and police
investigations, KLH experts had concluded that tailings Newmont
disposed into the Buyat bay constituted a dangerous substance,
while an expert from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries had said some fish living in the bay had been
contaminated.

"An expert in ocean has also confirmed that water from the
Totok Bay can't flow into Buyat Bay because of a two-kilometer
cape. This shows that pollution in the Buyat Bay is not caused by
pollution in Totok," Suharto said.

While the police have insisted the bay was polluted, the
government has yet to announce its position on the case as it was
now waiting for test results from a joint team it had formed last
month.

Anderson said although the company dismissed the allegations
it had polluted the bay, it was willing to conduct health tests
on the villagers to make sure that nothing serious had happened
there.

"I have discussed with around 80 villagers and non-
governmental organizations there, and the villagers would like
their health checked by independent doctors," said Anderson.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) declared on
Wednesday there was no contamination at Buyat Bay.

"Basically, we agree with the statement made by (State
Minister of the Environment) Nabiel Makarim (earlier) that there
was no industrial contamination in Buyat Bay," chairman B.N.
Wahju said.

He said contamination meant the existence of alien substances
exceeding normal levels. The mercury and mineral content in the
area were from natural substances and were not dangerous, he
said.

Separately, IMA board member Dibyo Kuntjoro said the Buyat Bay
case should be resolved wisely as it would have a serious impact
on the future of investment here.

He said there were two nickel mining companies that had been
considering invest about US$1.5 billion in Indonesia, which were
now waiting for a more "definite" business climate.