Now, for the action
Now, for the action
Except for the rows of shabby fishermen's shacks along the
waterfront, Buyat Bay, with its sandy beaches and surrounding
greenery, could have been the stuff that picture postcards are
made of. Lately, however, tragedy, worsened by controversy, has
cast an ugly shadow over this deceptively looking idyllic spot
about 110 kilometers northwest of North Sulawesi's provincial
capital, Manado. Reports reaching Jakarta during the past week
that at least one child has died and more than 100 local
residents are suffering from metal poisoning have shocked the
nation and raised serious questions about the government's
commitment with regard to enforcing environmental safety
standards throughout the country, especially in areas where heavy
industries operate.
Minamata disease, an incurable life destroying affliction
named after Minamata Bay in Japan, where it was first identified
in the mid-1950s, has once again created widespread speculation
in Indonesia. For years, it seems, people at and around Buyat Bay
have noticed outbreaks of a strange disease, marked by itching
and heavy skin rashes and swellings on various parts of the body.
However, it was not until recently that the occurrence began to
take alarming proportions. Local health workers identified the
most recent outbreak as Minamata disease, though tests on victims
have yet to prove this, and concern quickly began to spread,
reaching far beyond the area. As a consequence, people elsewhere
in the area have since begun to shun fish from the Buyat area,
threatening the very livelihoods of Buyat fishermen.
Environmentalists have been quick to point their finger at PT
Newmont Minahasa Raya, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Newmont
Mining Corporation, which operates a gold mine in the area. After
all, mercury, a metal most often blamed for causing the disease,
is used in the extraction of gold. Residents and a number of non-
governmental organizations in the province have since pressed
charges against both the company and the minister of health for
alleged neglect in upholding environmental safety standards.
Newmont Minahasa Raya, for its part, has denied the charges and
put the blame instead on the scores of local residents who
illegally pan for gold in the area. The argument has not yet been
resolved. Meanwhile, a number of Buyat residents arrived in
Jakarta over the past week, both to press their case with the
appropriate authorities and to seek medical treatment.
Although official laboratory test results are still being
awaited, to assuage undue fears, Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi
made it clear in a statement last week that the four Buyat
patients undergoing treatment in Jakarta displayed no symptoms of
Minamata disease, which mainly affects the nervous system. From
what can be observed so far, however, the four Buyat patients
have severe skin rashes, according to the minister.
In the final instance, of course, only laboratory tests can
determine the true nature of the Buyat outbreak with any degree
of certainty. This, however, must not be taken to mean that the
Buyat disaster should be taken lightly. Other cases of metal
poisoning have been reported, for example in the vicinity of
Kayan River in East Kalimantan, and most recently in Jakarta Bay,
where thousands of fish died due to the contaminated water of the
bay.
An important point to note in all these cases is that, so far,
the public has been given no official explanation as to the
nature of the disasters, and what action has been taken to remedy
the contamination and prevent future instances of pollution. In
the case of Buyat, identifying the culprit in order to be able to
take the appropriate measures is no doubt important. As far as
the local population is concerned, however, it is much more
important to identify the contaminating agents present in the bay
so that action can be taken without delay. As things stand at
present, the disaster is damaging the population not only in
terms of health, but financially as well.