Walhi says landslide is evidence of Freeport's negligence toward environmental assessment
Tuesday, May 9 2000 - 02:00 AM WIB
The popular Indonesian Forum for Environment or Walhi says that the break of the Wanagon Lake, which had been used to absorb the waste of gold mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia, is another proofs that of the company's negligence toward protecting the environment.
Walhi top executive Emmy Hafild was quoted by the Republika daily as saying that the wreckage of the lake was expected because Freeport had been careless in treating the waste before being dumped into the lake.
"With only a rainfall of slightly higher than normal, the embankment of the lake would certainly broke down," Emmy said.
She added that the break down of the Wanagon Lake was not the first time as it also happened in 1998. The government environmental supervisory agency (Bapedal) had ruled Freeport to improve the early warning system and the construction of the embankment of the lake.
"The current accident is a proof that Freeport has not improve its performance particularly in the management of its environmental impact assessment," Emmy said.
The accident that occurred last week had caused the death of four employees of Freeport contractors.
The government had sent an investigation team to the mining site in the Papua province.
Freeport had said that the accident was due to the heavy rainfall. (*)