Villagers blames Newmont, logging firms for causing flood in Sumbawa
Thursday, January 4 2001 - 11:00 AM WIB
At least 200 villagers of Taliwang, Sumbawa regency, West Nusa Tenggara, staged demonstration on Wednesday at the regent's office, accusing the regency of being slow in handling the impact of the recent flood in their area.
Bali Post daily reported the villagers blamed the flood on logging concession holders and copper and gold mining company PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara.
The people toured the city of Sumbawa in five buses and a van, carrying posters denouncing the regency's council, logging concession holders and Newmont, before staging a demonstration at the regent's office.
Abdul Hamid, coordinator of the Sumbawa Forum for Environment (FMPLS), said in his speech during the demonstration that the recent flood in the area, which took lives and caused property losses, was caused by rattan logging and stone quarrying by the rivers of Brang Rae and Brang Ene from 1997 to 1998 for Newmont's needs.
He said the rattan logging and stone quarrying had caused soil erosion and sedimentation in the area's rivers.
He called on the regency to stop all logging activities in the area, take stern actions against businessmen who damaged the area's forests and rivers and demanded the irresponsible businessmen and Newmont pay compensation to the public for the losses caused by the flood.
He also asked the regency to contact Newmont if the company has a technology to "isolate" rainfall, adding that such a technology was commonly used in mining operation.
Commenting the demonstration, Sumbawa regent Latief Madjid said he had long asked the governor's permission to stop rattan logging in the area and revoke their licenses on the grounds that the logging activities are one of the culprits of the flood.
Regarding the accusation launched against Newmont, he said he would contact the company soon.
Newmont external relation senior manager Robert Humberson said the company would give explanations to the government if it was asked to.
He explained that licenses for stone quarrying were issued by the local administration.
"Regarding a technology to isolate rainfall, as far as we know, there is no such a technology," he said, calling on the public to stop making speculations that could cause disinformation. (*)