Govt asked to probe Newmont camp

PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara has asked the government to investigate the attack on its Elang exploration camp earlier this week, and said it expects the authorities to take appropriate action against those responsible, The Jakarta Post newspaper reported in its Friday edition.

?The burning down of the exploration camp is inexcusable,? spokesman Kasan Mulyono said in a statement.

?Most of the community area fully supports the exploration efforts, and as a result of this action, many will suffer.?

The Indonesia unit of U.S. mining giant Newmont Mining Corp. halted exploration at Elang, 60 kilometers from its Batu Hijau gold mine in East Nusa Tenggara prvince?s Sumbawa Island, after villagers burnt down the semi permanent camp Sunday.

The motive for the attack is unclear, but it comes against a backdrop of apparently orchestrated resentment among some sections of the community against U.S. mining firms. (*)