Newmont Minahasa resumes operation after a two-day closure

Gold mining firm in North Sulawesi PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) has resumed operation since Monday after being shut down for two days, the company said in a statement.

NMR said that it would continue to negotiate with protesting villagers over land compensation dispute, with the next meeting scheduled on June 26.

Minahasa had to shut down its operation on the Mount Messel, Minahasa regency, since Saturday after some protesting villagers held a demonstration at the mining site.

The company said that it to take the temporary closure due to concern over the safety of its staffs.

The protesting villagers are demanding for additional compensation over the land acquired by the company in the past. The villagers said that the first compensation was far from enough. (*)