Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially announced that environmental pollution has taken place in Buyat Bay, Minahasa, North Sulawesi.
The pollution was caused by the tailing waste process, conducted by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, which is considered to have violated regulations. Furthermore, the government has stated its support for legal action and taking PT Newmont to court.
According to Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, the conclusion on the pollution in Buyat Bay was announced following a report made by State Minister of Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman regarding the verification team research on Tuesday (23/11).
Shihab stated that the verification team was formed to verify the research made by the joint investigation team established by the State Minister for the Environment.
"The team has concluded that the work results of the joint investigation team are valid," Shihab told reporters following a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Merdeka Selatan Palace on Wednesday (24/11).
According to Shihab, the work results of the joint team are accessible by members of the public. "Today [Wednesday 24/11], we open the work result sof the joint team to the public so that the method and system of these results can be held accountable," he stated.
Shihab added that the conclusion of the verification team has urged the government to continue the legal process against those allegedly responsible in the case in the courts. National Police headquarters (HQ) is still investigating the case.
Richard Ness, President Director of PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR), together with six members of staff are named as suspects in this pollution case. PT Newmont is also named as a suspect regarding a corporate crime based on Law No.23/1997 on Environmental Management.
Shihab said that the government would be responsible in settling all problems that have occurred due to the pollution.
State Minister of for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar stated that the joint investigation into Buyat Bay pollution found high levels of arsenic rather than mercury in Buyat Bay waters. "So, this is quite different with the pollution case in Minamata," he stated.
Witoelar plans to reallocate Buyat residents to save them and the environment. "It will take a period of 30 years to return the condition of the local environment to normal," he said. However, Witoelar stated, he was considering other possibilities to settle this matter.
Newmont spokesman Rubi Purnomo said that he was prepared to follow all legal process in this case. "We will be cooperative even in the court room," he told Tempo on Wednesday night [23/11] in response to the findings of the verification team.
However, Purnomo said that Newmont has never been included in the verification team. "We [Newmont] are never allowed to take part in this verification team," he said.
So far, Purnomo stated, Newmont is still awaiting permission from the government to re-open the factory following its closing on August 31.
After waiting for the issuing of the license, PT Newmont shall conduct monitoring and evaluation of the area's recovery for three years. "We will do as mandated by the mining closure agreement," Purnomo said.
[Yura Syahrul & RR Ariyani-Tempo News Room.]