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.