New study indicates arsenic in Buyat Bay
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.