IMA wants police to release Newmont executives
Wednesday, October 20 2004 - 07:48 AM WIB
Jakarta, October 20, 2004 ? The Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) today strongly recommend the Police to review their stance and to release from detention, five mining professionals employed by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya following the release of the Government?s Integrated Team report on Buyat Bay.
?The five professionals were detained on allegations by certain NGOs that Newmont had polluted the bay with mercury and arsenic, causing deaths and Minamata disease,? said IMA chairman Beni Wahju.
He was referring to the police?s detention of five Newmont employees ? three Indonesians, an American and an Australian ? in the course of their investigation into pollution allegations in Buyat Bay.
?The Government?s Integrated Team?s findings, which was officially released by the Ministry for the Environment on Tuesday, October 19, makes it clear that there is no pollution in Buyat Bay. If there is no pollution, then the five professionals cannot even be suspected of polluting,? he said.
Mr. Wahju called on the police to review their findings because they differ significantly from those issued by the Government Integrated Team and the World Health Organization. ?There is too much contradictory data from credible, independent and certified institutions for the police not to review their findings,? he said.
?The IMA is very concerned that five mining professionals are continued to being detained in the face of mounting studies indicating there has been no polluting of the environment?. (end of release)
For further information please contact:
Joe Widartoyo ? Executive Secretary of IMA
Phone/Fax : 62-21 828-0763 / 830-3632 / 8370-5657