THE pool deck on the sixth floor of the Ritzy Hotel in Manado is crowded with people. A big party is in full swing with food and drink overflowing and guests with happy faces taking turns to sing and dance on the floor.

That Tuesday night a week ago PT Newmont Minahasa Raya was celebrating the decision of the Manado District Court which ruled that the company and its CEO Richard Bruce Ness were not guilty of polluting Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi