Mining moratorium

Mining moratorium

Your article of June 5, 2002, titled Mining operations put
environment at risk, will put your credibility at risk because
you are using information and data that are not credible. Maybe
you were quoting statements issued by antimining non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) without checking with the experts concerned.

The investment climate in Indonesia, especially in mining, has
been unfavorable since 1999, as most mining operations have
suffered from legal uncertainties and insecurity. The result is
that field operations have been suspended or closed. Investors in
mining explorations left the country and the business is at its
lowest ebb. No new investors are entering the mining industry.

For the benefit of poor people in the remote areas of East
Indonesia, please do not support a moratorium on mining as that
will deprive hundreds of thousands of people of jobs and is
counterproductive to poverty eradication efforts.

The call for a moratorium in the Indonesian mining industry
originated from rich foreign NGOs and was picked up by some
Jakarta-based NGOs.

PAUL COUTRIER

Jakarta

Note: The Jakarta Post interviewed and included comments
in the article from Richard Ness, an executive of PT Newmont
Minahasa Raya, in order to comply with the principle of "covering
both sides". --Editor