Newmont's compensation fund still parked at bank
Thursday, February 10 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
Gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya has yet to withdraw an Rp 147 million in compensation fund it deposited at a state bank although the trial of its land dispute with the villagers around its gold mine in Ratatotok, Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi was over, Manado Post reported.
The paper said the company delivered the money to the Tondano district court in June 1994 and February 1995 to anticipate the possibility that the Ratatotok villagers forced it to pay compensation for their lands. The court later deposited the money at a state bank.
The trial of dispute has been over, the paper said but it did not provide details on the final decision of the court.
"We don't know why the company has not yet withdrawn the money," the court's spokesman said.
Newmont's manager of government and community relations Tri Harjono said Newmont is likely to withdraw the money. (*)