New study indicates arsenic in Buyat Bay
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The study of a joint team involving 14 government agencies has found indications that Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi has high levels of arsenic, prompting the government to warn residents around the bay not to consume water from wells and to reduce fish consumption.
State Minister for the Environment Rahmat Witoelar said on Monday arsenic poisoning was seen in some residents who were suffering from various illnesses.
"There have been some indications (of possible contamination) in Buyat Bay. However, we need to determine whether or not it was intentional," Rahmat told a press conference after witnessing the joint team hand over the result of the study to a steering committee.
He said the team found that the sediments they took as samples were contaminated.
According to the minister, the joint team conducted the study to determine the cause of the sickness the residents complained of. He refused, however, to reveal the complete results of the study or the parties allegedly responsible for the contamination, pending a discussion in a ministerial meeting on Wednesday.
"The joint team found some new facts that must be cross- checked with policies of sectors other than the environment. Therefore, I have to coordinate with related ministers," Rahmat said.
There have been concerns among environmentalists that the joint team would not recommend legal process against the alleged polluter for fear that it would discourage investment.
The study was conducted from Aug. 28 to Sept. 12 by a team of 57 experts from 14 related agencies and NGOs, including the Office of the State Minister for the Environment, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Health, the National Police, several universities, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam).
Asked whether the contamination was caused by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, a subsidiary of U.S. giant gold producer Newmont which was also the only mining company operating there for six years up until Aug. 31, 2004, Rahmat said that it could be one of the possibilities apart from illegal miners.
Police have named six Newmont executives in the pollution case, although prosecutors questioned the credibility of the method they applied to determine the contamination.
Newmont has repeatedly denied the charges, saying that at least three independent laboratories have concluded that the bay is not polluted.
Rachmat said he would do his best to prevent similar pollution from recurring in the future through proper implementation of an Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) prior to construction and mining operations.