Regency, NGO demand immediate closure of Newmont
Thursday, March 30 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The lawyers representing the Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi in the dispute against gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya had sent a letter to the Tondano District Court to officially demand for the temporary closure of the company, Manado Post reported.
The letter was dated March 27, 2000 and signed lawyer OC Kaligis.
The district court issued early this year a provisional ruling for Newmont to temporarily close down its gold mines while the hearing of the dispute was in progress.
The provincial high court recently approved the provisional ruling, allowing the district court to execute the ruling. But thus far, the district court has delayed the execution.
Kaligis demanded in the letter that the court fined Newmont Rp 100 million per day for delaying the closure.
The paper however did not reveal the deadline for the closure of the gold mine.
Meanwhile, another lawyer of the regency Jerry Pattilima said the regency was still open for a discussion with the company to find a peaceful solution before the closure ruling was implemented.
Meanwhile, a local non-governmental organization called the Conscience Foundation said Newmont could be prosecuted for its alleged environmental crime.
Denny Magundap of the foundation said the results of the audit by the independent team formed the provincial administration, which reportedly confirmed the pollution cause by Newmont, could serve as an evidence to prosecute the company, he said.
"As such, the Conscience Foundation is of the belief that there isn't any other alternatives but to stop the activities of the gold mine," he said. (*)