Govt set to announce Buyat inquiry result

Govt set to announce Buyat inquiry result

JAKARTA: A government-sanctioned team mandated to probe
possible metal contamination in Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, is
expected to announce the result of its investigation next week,
an official said.

Masnellyarti Hilman, the deputy environment minister who
chairs the team, said on Thursday the team had made several
conclusions regarding the probe, but refused to elaborate.

She stressed the report commissioned by former environment
minister Nabiel Makarim recently had nothing to with the team's
work. That report said there was no pollution in the bay.

The joint team comprises government officials, activists,
academics and a representative from Newmont, whose subsidiary PT
Newmont Minahasa Raya is accused of contaminating the bay. -- JP