Newmont halts operation following workers? boycott

Gold miner PT Newmont Minahasa Raya temporarily has halted its mining operation in Minahasa, North Sulawesi since Wednesday, this week, following workers? boycott over the dismissal of their 44 friends in the United States-based company, Suara Karya reported on Friday.

Tri Hadjono, an executive of the company, confirmed on Thursday that the company had stopped its operation since Wednesday after the workers boycotted the company?s activities in their protests over the dismissal of their 44 friends.

But he said that some important activities such as the operation of the tailing disposal and environmental monitoring were still maintained despite the boycott.

The company?s general manager Brant Hinze promised to hold a negotiation with the protesting workers. "We understand about the workers? feeling but we will try to talk over their complaint," he said.

Newmont Minahasa, a subsidiary of the United States-based Newmont Corporation, has become the target of both residents and workers? protests in the province due to its alleged involvement in causing pollution. The company has for several times suspended its operations due to such protests. (*)