Activists condemned a suggestion by a minister that the government might consider an out-of-court settlement with U.S. mining company Newmont in a civil lawsuit involving alleged pollution of Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, warning that it would set a bad precedent for the enforcement of environmental law.

Raja Siregar of the Indonesia Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said that if the government acceded to Newmont's offer of mediation, this would prove its half-heartedness in enforcing the law in the environmental field.

Activists in communities around the world -- wherever Newmont Mining Company operates open-pit gold mines -- experience intimidation, threats and violence that come directly or indirectly from Newmont managers and contractors. In Indonesia, Newmont is currently suing three community activists for "defamation;" if convicted, they face jail sentences, fines and/or confiscation of their property.

The following update comes from CS campaign partner Ma Yong-Un, regarding two prominent activists for protection of the Saemangeum wetlands, Father Moon Kyuhyun and Reverand Sukyung:

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Father Moon Kyuhyun

 Father Moon has continued his efforts to conserve the Saemanguem tidal flat and has been working to establish a wetland education center at the Saemangeum tidal-flat in Buan to promote public awareness on conservation of the wetland. He keeps trying to persuade people to reconsider the destructive project whenever he has a chance.

On April 5, more than 600 members of the Bari, Yukpa, and Wayu indigenous peoples from the westernmost region of Venezuela gathered in the capital of Caracas to protest coal mining in the Sierra de Perij mountain range and the Guajira peninsula. The indigenous protesters were joined by environmentalists, civil society groups, political organizations, and non-governmental organizations who said the mines are negatively impacting the land and its inhabitants.

 Indigenous leaders of the island of Sakhalin in the far east of Russia have joined forces as a new wave of oil and gas development on the island is encroaching on their traditional lands.

On March 25-26, representatives of the Nivkh, Orok, Evenk, and Nanai peoples of Sakhalin held a congress in the town of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Roughly 3,000 indigenous people make up about 0.5 percent of the island’s total population.

Here's an update from the New York Times on the situation in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, where Newmont Mining Company faces charges that its mine caused health problems and environmental contamination. As the Newmont annual shareholders meeting approaches (April 27), we will keep you updated on protests against Newmont from communities around the world. Global Response supports protesters against Newmont mines in Indonesia, Ghana and Peru.

MAR. 17 8:47 A.M. ET Indonesia's Supreme Court has ruled that a police investigation into five executives of U.S. mining giant Newmont Mining Corp. over pollution allegations is legal, clearing the way for the men to face trial.

In December, the South Jakarta District Court ruled that the case against the men -- an American, an Australian and three Indonesians -- was illegal because police had failed to inform the environment ministry of their intention to arrest them.

On January 20, around 250 representatives of the Evenk, Nivkh, Nanai, and Uilta indigenous peoples of Sakhalin Island took to the streets in Venskoye settlement, Nogliksky, to protest the activities of international oil companies in the area. The first in a series of actions, participants declared that construction of oil and gas pipelines, processing facilities, and other large industrial sites are having a direct negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.

Many thanks and congratulations to everyone who sent messages and letters to the government of Indonesia on behalf of communities affected by Newmont's Minahasa Raya gold mine.

 This week, the Minister of the Environment announced he has asked a court to order Newmont Mining Company to pay for environmental damages and the sufferings of villagers affected by pollution from the mine. two news reports from Indonesia below.  And celebrate this victory for corporate accountability!

Government to seek financial compensation from Newmont

Environmental organizations in South Korea invite us to celebrate a victory in their long struggle to protect the Saemangeum tidal flats, which provide critical feeding habitat for migratory birds. Korea’s government is building a 33-kilometer sea wall that would destroy this biologically rich ecosystem.

This week a court ordered the construction to stop while further environmental studies are conducted.

Two big news items in the campaign to hold Newmont Mining Corporation accountable for environmental and health impacts of its Minahasa Raya mine in North Sulawesi, Indonesia