2006年VOA标准英语-Newmont Mining Suspends Exploration on Ind

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
20 March 2006

Newmont Mining Corporation has suspended gold and copper¹ exploration on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa after unknown assailants burned down a camp for its workers.

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Indonesia police block protester during a demonstration² at Jayapura, West Papua, Indonesia, March 16, 2006  
  

No one was injured in the attack Sunday at the Newmont camp, which is located around 1500 kilometers east of Jakarta and 60 kilometers from the company's massive Batu Hijau gold and copper mine on Indonesia's eastern Sumbawa Island.

Newmont spokesman Kasan Mulyono says it is not clear who the attackers were or why they had targeted the camp, but the U.S. company had decided³ to suspend gold and copper exploration for the time being.

"What we stopped is our exploration to find the gold because the camp was burned down by a community group. We will stop the exploration project until further review," Kasan says.

The spokesman said operations at the Batu Hijau mine on Sumbawa would not be affected⁴ by the suspension.

Last month Newmont, the world's largest gold mining company, agreed to pay the Indonesian government $30 million in an out-of-court settlement over a civil case alleging⁵ the company had polluted a bay near another of its Indonesian mines.

But that settlement does not resolve the criminal case filed against Newmont Indonesia's American head, Richard Ness, who faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the pollution charges.

Ness denies any wrongdoing.

Other foreign mining companies in Indonesia have also seen an increase in protests and attacks against them during the last year.

Political analyst⁶ from Jakarta's University of Indonesia, Indria Samego, says these problems could prevent foreign companies from investing in Indonesia's natural resource sector⁷.

"(The) business climate in Indonesia will be disturbed because it seems to be there is no regulation," she said. "Businessmen worry about the political guarantee to expand business activities in this country."

Another American owned mining company, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Incorporated, suspended operations at its mine in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua last month after protesters blocked a road leading to the site.

Demonstrations⁸ against Freeport in Papua's provincial⁹ capital of Jayapura last week resulted in the death of three policemen and one soldier and the arrest of more than 50 people.

On Monday, demonstrations continued against Freeport outside the U.S. embassy in Jakarta with protesters demanding the closure of the mine.

1 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

9 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。