U.S. consulate asks security at Newmont
Tuesday, November 14 2000 - 03:00 AM WIB
The U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya Robert Appolard met Monday with Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Harun Al Rasyid to have a dialogue and to ask the security condition at gold and copper mining firm PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), Media Indonesia daily reported.
Harun said that he had told his guest that there was no problem with the security condition in the mining site despite several "minor incidents." He said that the company's operation continued without disruption.
NNT operates in the Batu Hijau area in Jereweh sub district, Sumbawa district.
The paper said that until now there had been already some 33 demonstrations conducted by various groups near the mining site.
It added that despite the demonstrations, mining activity at NNT continued and the company was able to pay around Rp 85 billion (US$1=Rp 9,100) in royalty to the West Nusa Tenggara administration.
After meeting with Harun, Appolard met with the provincial police chief. (*)