12 arrested in Newmont torching incident
Tuesday, March 28 2006 - 12:32 AM WIB
West Nusa Tenggara police had arrested 12 people suspected of torching Newmont Nusa Tenggara?s (NNT) exploration camp in Sumbawa island last week, Koran tempo reported.
Seven villagers, who tried to resist arrest, were hit by rubber bullet.
Villagers torched NNT?s exploration camp over dispute in community development fund. The incident prompted NNT to halt its exploration activities in Elang area.
NNT, which produces copper and gold from Batu Hijau mine, is a subsidiary of US mining giant Newmont Mining Corp.(*)