MANADO, Sulutlink. Governor of North Sulawesi Drs. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang asserts that PT Meares Soputan Mining (MSM, Archipelago Res.) must halt all activities prior to Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken by Ministry of Environment is endorsed. The company is operating gold mining in the hilly region Toka Tindung, Likupang District, North Minahasa Regency. The Environmental Impact Assessment of the project is under review by EIA team of Ministry of Environment in Jakarta.“Thus, I will not allow MSM to continue operation. They must wait until the EIA is completed,” states the Governor when asked by Sulutlink regarding the current state of the gold mine corporation, in the middle of Seminar in Hotel Quality Manado, Monday (13/11).

Regarding the burning of MSM shelter by hundreds of locals coming from Kalinaun, Rinondoran, and Batuputih villages protesting the gold company’s operation on Sunday (12/11) afternoon, Sarundajang said they must be sentenced according to the law. Asked with the same question, the vice Governor Freddy Harry Sualang commented the community is allowed to organize protest action but they should not do this with anarchy. (Previous News: Villagers Burnt MSM shelter!,red)

(Translated from Sulutlink http://www.sulutlink.com/berita2006/sulut1114.htm)