Unspun

12 responses to “Newmont head’s son blogs to help father in Buyat Bay case”

1. 

   Eric Ness

   November 2, 2006 at 4:44 am

   Dear Unspun,

   Thank you for the write-up regarding my dad’s case. Well you don’t need to be a spin doctor to tell the truth. Yes, believe it or not I am actually responsible for the web site and its contents although I appreciate the note of skepticism as I would probably have shared the sentiment.

   I started doing my dad’s site initially for two reasons: first, to keep friends and family informed and secondly, it was clear early on that it was pretty important to document this as the trial was going on. One of the things I had not really anticipated was the peripheral interest the blog would generate and so the scope of the site has changed a little.

   Another thing that I don’t really write about in my blog is the fact that I often meet with U.S. Senators and a number of people from the State Dept. to give them updates on my dad’s trial – I’ve even started to do a number of interviews as of late. That is actually why the site architecture is the way it is, so people wither they are friends and family, people in the government, or reporters can access information very easily.

   I’ve also been designing websites since 1997, am currently employed as a web programmer for a small web development firm here in DC. The site is a custom CMS built from scratch which is great as it makes updates and management a breeze.

   For the content I write the blogs, my dad sends me the trial notes (as stated on the page) just to give people an idea of what is actually going on each day of the trial. The documents are the actual studies, new clippings, and some of the photos where actually taken by Jerry Kojansow (one of my dad’s co-workers who as actually arrested) and a little flash stuff, the press releases are from Newmont as stated and just a little timeline/bio page I wrote.

   But, thank you for writing about my site I’ve come to believe that every additional person who knows about my dad’s case helps. As you can imagine it’s been a little hard to watch someone you love have to go through this but this is how you help out. We also have a lot of support from friends, family, Newmont, and a really good team that works with my dad, so I’m hopeful it will all work out in the end for the best.

   Thanks,
   Eric N.

   Eric .:|@|:. Richardness.org

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2. 

   Jakartass

   November 2, 2006 at 5:42 am

   Without prejudging the rights and/or wrongs in this case, could you, Eric, tell us why you haven’t activated Comments on your blog?

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3. 

   Eric Ness

   November 2, 2006 at 6:22 am

   I gave a bit of thought about weather or not I should have a comments section on my site and essentially it came down to two things: primarily this is ongoing trial before a court in front of a panel of judges and I feel the Buyat issue should be judged according to the merits of the case and not conduct a parallel “trial by blog” and in this way I feel I am able to respect the dignity of the court and it’s processes and the second point is that I thought it could potentially open up my site for people to troll and post mean things about my dad and detract from any potential discussion one could have and plus, I really don’t want to play the roll of the censor in that situation either.

   I do receive comments and questions as the webmaster and for those who are looking for additional information; I try to provide the necessary information to answer their questions. Plus, I still believe the primary roll of the site is to provide information regarding my dad’s ongoing legal case and it is important not to potentially get side tracked.

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4. 

   unspun

   November 2, 2006 at 9:21 am

   Eric: Thanks for the prompt reply. Pardon me for the skepticism but its an esential quality for survival in Indonesia.

   Congratulations for coming with a very classy and professional looking blog. My only complaints, technically, is that 1. there is no trackback and 2. There is nothing about yourself in the “about” page. Can understand you wanting this only to be about your dad but I think it would help dispel the skepticism (from people like me, for instance) if you put in something about yourself as well.

   I’ve met your dad and I like his company. I’ve also been involved in the Buyat Bay case a long time ago and seen the evidence. I am convinced that Newmont did not pollute Buyat Bay. But it became a victim of political circumstances and poor management.

   Given such circumstances, I think you are doign a good job. The important thing is to get the information out or make it accessible. When controversies like this erupt in Indonesia the first thing that flies out the window are the facts. Keep it up and I hope your father gets out of the difficult situation he’s in soon.

   I now hope that some of the bloggers in Indonesia who write in Indonesian, such as A. Fatik Suyhud and Priyadi, would pick up your blog. That would help disseminate your messages much more effectively in this country.

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5. 

   Kay

   November 2, 2006 at 10:45 am

   A couple of general points.

   1. I think it’s great that Eric is actively working to support his father.
   2. A brief layman’s inspection of the merits of the case against Richard Ness would appear to suggest serious evidentiary and procedural flaws.

   Okay, that’s the court case – now the blog.

   The problem is that Newmont practices an excruciatingly intense micromanagement of any and all “messages” that go out about the Ness case. So it would be disingenous in the extreme to assume that Eric set up the blog and Newmont said “Sure son, that sounds like a fine idea” and left it at that. You can be damn sure Newmont exercises some measure of control, implict or explict, advisory/cautionary/technical assistance whatever and is closely screening what goes on that blog so that content stays “on message”. The fact that the blog is a one-way propaganda horn – no comments section – would support that assumption. I know that if I were in Eric’s shoes, I’d want and need any/all kind of messages of support/feedback on the info I’m putting out just to reassure me that people care. I’d suggest Eric is already fully-confident that he has very powerful backers in this endeavor and thus the opinions of the masses – and awkwardly, maybe somebody claiming to be from Buyat Bay who might write that he/she will swear on a stack of Korans that his/her x health problem is surely linked to Newmont’s activities there- really aren’t of any interest to say the least. I don’t mean to sound cynical or churlish – again, Eric is a filial son and deserves praise for that. But follow the money. We’re talking about a case in which hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and profits could be at stake if the Ness verdict doessn’t go in Newmont’s favor. What CEO is going to risk that without a fight that pulls out all the stops? That means “flooding the zone” with the company message, and the blogosphere is the zone’s newest suburb.

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6. 

   Jakartass

   November 2, 2006 at 5:32 pm

   Again without prejudging the merits of the case, it would appear from the ‘voices’ that the original posts have been carefully edited, whereas Eric’s comments haven’t. e.g. roll instead of ‘role’.

   I do appreciate that a lot of thought needs to be taken in writing and that responding to comments as quickly as Eric has, for which we thank you, can lead to typos and other errors and, hence, a different writing style.

   But then here we are so used to corporate massaging, in the guise of social responsibility, and generally by those foreign companies gouging out the natural resources of Indonesia without due regard for local interests, that, as Unspun says, skepticism is inevitable.

   As Jakartass I have been regularly asked why I’m not supporting your father, Eric. I am, in some respects. It seems clear that some pollution has occured, though whether caused by Newmont or by illegal miners in the area, as has been claimed, is unclear to me.

   If, as CEO, your father shares responsiblity for poisoning the inhabitants of Buyat Bay, then so be it. The buck must stop somewhere. I wouldn’t advocate any punishment which wouldn’t be given to, say, the boss of Lapindo Brantas whose crime of negligence is affecting far more people than the ‘crime’ supposedly perpertrated by Newmont.

   So, judging from the treatment of your father, it woud appear that a lorge measure of prejudging has already taken place. And that, above all, makes your blog of great value. The law must be transparent in its dealings with all that come before the courts.

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7. 

   Jakartass

   November 2, 2006 at 5:35 pm

   PS. Unspun.
   Could you please activate Preview so that typos, etc. are edited before we post? Please?

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8. 

   Eric Ness

   November 3, 2006 at 2:56 am

   To unspun:

   I actually collect a lot of data from the site and obviously I am keeping track of site referrals. However, I have yet to write and implement a function that would perform the trackback functionality. Also, I think you are right. It would probably be nice if I put a little information about me on the site.

   To Kay:

   This blog is a response to the indictment of my father as an individual and there is a second indictment against Newmont. Newmont has a separate website called http://www.buyatbayfacts.com that is part of the corporate communication related to the indictment against the company. Newmont has absolutely no control over the contents I put out on my site because it relates specifically to the indictments against my father. This is an important distinction to make, so thank you for allowing me to clarify it.

   It is not really a fair assessment to characterize as a one way propaganda horn. Don’t forget that my family has had to endure several New York Times articles, we’ve had to listen to numerous unfounded allegations by NGO’s and we’ve had to see our dad in the center of a blown up political situation. If there is a metaphorical mountain to climb I certainly feel like it is us.

   To jakartass:

   I share a lot of your sentiments. All I’ve wanted is the case be tried on the facts.

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9. 

   unspun

   November 3, 2006 at 12:18 pm

   Eric: Thanks for your reply but I wonder if a blog is effective if you do not allow for comments. Afterall, the purpose of blogs is to establish a conversation. If the comments get too rabid you can moderate them or just delete them with a note that you’ve deleted them.

   You might as well set up a website if you want to have a blog without comments.

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10. 

    Kay

    November 7, 2006 at 1:25 am

    Good point, Unspun. Clearly Eric and his backers have decided that a blog – which at it’s best is a free flow of information, opinions and ideas – wouldn’t be in Newmont’s interest.

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11. Solo effort or spinmeisters behind the Buyat Bay blog? « Unspun

    November 9, 2006 at 10:52 am

    […] Unspun was a little skeptical that one man could do such a great job as Eric Ness in devising and maintaining a blog about his father, Richard Ness, who is facing trial as head of Newmont in Indonesia for allegedly polluting Buyat Bay. […]

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12. Mining blogs « Goldmine

    November 10, 2006 at 10:23 pm

    […] Still the most interesting one is the Blog of Eric Ness, son of Richard Ness. But what´s the truth about this blog? Spinmasters oder solo effort? More information about this blog, it´s motivation and the people behind you can find at´s unspun. […]

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