30 NGOs in Sumbawa rally against Newmont

Representatives from 30 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Sumbawa Besar, West Nusa Tenggara, demonstrated on Wednesday against the presence of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) in their lands, arguing that its presence did not benefit local people. The demonstrators gathered in front of Newmont's representative office on Jl. Cendrawasih, Sumbawa Besar, and they held alternate free-speech among themselves, criticizing what they called Newmont's injustice employment policy and poor environmental records.

The chairman of the Sumbawa City Forum (Forkots), Imanudin Bujik, said that Newmont's presence in Sumbawa only created social gap and social jealousy as the company employed only a few local people in its mining operation in the area.

''Newmont always argues that the skill of workers in Sumbawa is very low. If that is the case, the presence of Newmont here does not bring any meaning society here," Imanudin said.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of FPRTS, another NGO, Ridwan, questioned Newmont's contract of work (COW) that was signed by the company and the central government. he demanded the COW be reviewed, involving local administrations, so that it would benefit more local people.

After the free speech, NGO activist from Lunyuk, Sukarno, presented a petition to Newmont employee Umar Hasan. The petition demands the company to stop disposing its mining tailing to the sea.

Meanwhile, Newmont spokesman Luciana Ferrero said that the company was open for any inputs and ready to talk to any party, including NGOs, to solve the various problems, including the employment of local people.

Luciana said that the company was also open for any suggestion and criticism on its operations, including the disposal of tailing, as long such criticism was accompanied by evidences.

"They (NGOs) can talk as they like as long as they have evidence. If there are problems, let's sit together and talk," Luciana said. (*)