Geologists called on to restore confidence

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno called on Indonesian geologists yesterday to restore international confidence in Indonesia's mining industry following a recent mining fiasco which resulted in one of the biggest hoaxes in history.

The vice president said geologists are expected to provide accurate information and maintain their reputation in the business world.

Without directly referring to the Busang gold mining scandal, Try said that Indonesia's reputation had been tarnished.

"The recent event which occurred in our mining industry is expected to be a lesson for all of us that the manipulation of the content of natural resources on earth has tarnished our reputation in the international fora," Try said during the opening of the 26th national workshop of the Indonesian Geologists Association (IAGI) at Merdeka Selatan Palace.

Canadian exploration company Bre-X Minerals Ltd initially claimed that its Busang property in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, was one of the biggest gold finds this century.

The company boasted that Busang contained at least 57 million ounces of gold, based on salted drilling samples.

But an independent audit revealed that the report was false. Additional testing later showed that there was little real gold and it was uneconomical to mine.

Investigators said that Bre-X Minerals' chief geologist Filipino Michael de Guzman had orchestrated the swindle.

On March 19, de Guzman fell out of a helicopter on his way to the project site.

Indonesian geologists have complained for a long time that the government and mining companies prefer to hire foreign geologists.

Family

Try also presented medals to 81 couples who have participated in the family planning program for more than 15 years early yesterday. The vice president has been standing in at state functions for President Soeharto who has been told to rest by doctors.

"They represent more than six million couples across the country," State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono said in his report to the vice president.

While commending the 81 couples for their participation, Try said he was still concerned about the rate of the country's population growth.

Indonesia has successfully reduced the growth rate from 2.32 percent between 1971-1980 to just 1.66 percent in the last five years.

But Try said that given Indonesia's population of more 200 million people, the growth rate was still high.

In a discussion with the couples, Try impressed the audience with his sense of humor and warm reception.

Before reading his official speech Try joked: "I will not ask you to form a chorus or talk about IUDs (intrauterine birth control devices)". The audience burst into laughter.

Standing in front of the vice president, State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono instructed recipients to say "yes" when they agreed with his statement.

"Do you support family planning and do you want to only have two children?" the minister asked.

"Yes," they answered. Try just smiled. (prb)