Police begins Buyat laboratory tests

Police begins Buyat laboratory tests

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta

Police began on Monday the laboratory examination of water and
other samples taken from Buyat Bay, South Minahasa regency, North
Sulawesi, with the results of the tests expected to only become
available after 10 days.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung
Sudjono gave assurances that police analysts were conducting the
tests in accordance with the highest scientific standards.

"We gathered 10 different samples from 10 different locations
to make sure they represent the whole area that is believed to be
contaminated. These are not simple tests so we will need 10 days
to complete the job," said Suyitno.

Besides water samples, other samples include sediment taken
from the bay, rocks, sand and fish. The police also took samples
of nail and hair from 34 people living around the bay, Suyitno
said.

For the sake of transparency, the police had invited non-
governmental organizations, local residents and representatives
of PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, the mining company accused of
contaminating the bay, to witness the collection of the samples,
the officer said.

"Experts helped us determine the locations where we should
take samples. They also advised us as regards from how deep in
the sea the samples should be taken and what things should be
sampled," said Suyitno.

During the laboratory tests, the police will measure the
levels of mercury, cyanide and other metals in the samples in
order to determine whether the bay is polluted and whether any
pollution that is found could endanger human life.

Suyitno said research reports submitted by a number of NGOs
would be considered as additional information should the police
need to pursue the case further.

"We will keep the results of all the tests, including those
conducted on four Buyat Bay people by MIPA UI in the case files.
But we must first determine the level of contamination in the
area," said Suyitno.

He was referring to the results of laboratory tests conducted
by the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the
University of Indonesia (MIPA UI) on four Buyat residents
recently. It revealed that their blood mercury levels ranged
between 9.51 and 23.90 microns per liter (u/L), surpassing the
maximum acceptable limit of 8 u/L.

Suyitno also said the police were now examining complaints
filed by the four residents against the health minister,
environment minister, and energy and mineral resources minister
for allegedly giving false information to the public.

"We will question the witnesses before we think about
summoning the three ministers. If we have to question them, then
we will need the consent of the President. We will also check
their statements," said Suyitno.

The three ministers said during a joint press conference in
Jakarta last week that no heavy metal contamination had been
found in the bay.