Published: 05 September 2013

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TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta (24/02):The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is urging the environment and health ministries to re-test the water in wells in Buyat, North Sulawesi. This is to follow-up on a report from the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and the Environment Ministry that showed indications that Buyat villagers had arsenic poisoning.

This time, the study must focus on the water that is believed to have caused illness in the area, Komnas HAM deputy head Ridha Saleh told Tempo yesterday. Ridha said that water in the village had been contaminated by dangerous minerals as a result of PT Newmont Minahasas Rayas (NMR) mining activities in 2004.

The Environment Ministry and MER-C previously conducted continuous health checks on Buyat villagers. The result showed that 60 percent of 65 villagers had arsenic poisoning. This was different from the Health Ministrys finding that showed there was no health disorders from the water.

Ridha said that Komnas HAM had called on the regional government to provide potable water for the villagers. She also said she hoped the government would respond promptly to the request because Komnas recommendation letter was sent two weeks ago.

MUNAWWAROH

http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2012/02/24/brk,20120224-386219,uk.html