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- Feb 11, 2007
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Barrick distances itself from alleged killings
2008-10-26 14:35:37
By Polycarp Machira
Barrick Gold Corporation has distanced itself from the reported controversial eviction of small scale miners in 1996 from the Bulyankulu Gold Mine area in Kahama district and dismissed as mere fabrication allegations that some 54 of them were killed.
Local and international human activists have since been alleging that the corporation is responsible for the atrocities in the mining area.
And last week some religious leaders urged the government to conduct fresh investigations into the allegations.
Reacting to the religious leaders, Barrick said during the period of the alleged killings, they had not started mining operations in the area, which was then under Sutton Resources and Kahama Mining Limited.
``Barrick had neither involvement whatsoever nor were we ``complicit`` in the removal of artisan miners from the Bulyanhulu site in 1996.
``Barrick did not acquire Sutton Resources until 1999. In fact, not a single artisanal miner was injured or killed when artisanal miners at Bulyanhulu were removed by the government in 1999,`` the company said in a statement.
SOURCE: Sunday Observer
2008-10-26 14:35:37
By Polycarp Machira
Barrick Gold Corporation has distanced itself from the reported controversial eviction of small scale miners in 1996 from the Bulyankulu Gold Mine area in Kahama district and dismissed as mere fabrication allegations that some 54 of them were killed.
Local and international human activists have since been alleging that the corporation is responsible for the atrocities in the mining area.
And last week some religious leaders urged the government to conduct fresh investigations into the allegations.
Reacting to the religious leaders, Barrick said during the period of the alleged killings, they had not started mining operations in the area, which was then under Sutton Resources and Kahama Mining Limited.
``Barrick had neither involvement whatsoever nor were we ``complicit`` in the removal of artisan miners from the Bulyanhulu site in 1996.
``Barrick did not acquire Sutton Resources until 1999. In fact, not a single artisanal miner was injured or killed when artisanal miners at Bulyanhulu were removed by the government in 1999,`` the company said in a statement.
SOURCE: Sunday Observer
