Walhi to meet with American envoy over Newmont

The branch of environmental NGO Walhi in West Nusa Tenggara will hold a meeting with the Consulate General of the United States Embassy in Jakarta Robert A Pollard during his official visit in Mataram today (Monday), Bali Pos reported.

Robert who will visit Mataram to accompany the outgoing American ambassador Robert S. Gelbard has invited senior officials of the branch of Walhi to a hold a meeting during his trip, Walhi said in a press statement.

The head of the local branch of Walhi, Bambang Mei Finarwanto said that the organization was invited to share mining information and those related to the operation of copper and gold mine operator Newmont Nusa Tenggara, a subsidiary of the United States-based Newmont Corporation.

He said the discussion could also touch political issues especially those related to the latest political development in Jakarta and their impact to social activities in the province. Social unrest including the bombing of Newmont mining sites lately could be also raised during the meeting, Bambang said.

Bambang said that the meeting will be important, in the part of Walhi, to clarify some information related to the organization's activities to avoid misunderstanding. But he stressed that Walhi would not soften its mining advisory in order to obtain funding or a project from the U.S. government. (*)