'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.