Reuben Mete and the Plight of Watut River people.

By Watut Mahn

For Every large scale development in Papua New Guinea, number of tribal peoples birth right or their social security is permanently lost. It pays of in corporations profit by which most of them are foreign own while the Local peoples lives become worst.

Hidden Valley Gold Mine or Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) as it is commonly referred to is a 50:50 percent jointly owned by Australia's Newcrest Mining and South African Harmony Gold.

Located in Bulolo, Morobe Province, Mine construction work begun in mid 2005 causing environmental catastrophe and destruction to the Watut River, which is a life source of hundreds of local indigenous communities that lives along the river.

Reuben Mete, a local land owner from Middle Watut has had something to do with it. His father was a community leader and a Lutheran church layman and his work meant most family needs are the opportunity cost for his volunteer work giving young Reuben a better grasp of volunteering.

Reuben and his big brother and two small sister were nurtured in a family where education was valued but was denied due to the accessibility by virtue of the unequal distribution of Government Services to the rural communities. His father urged him to consider a career that can benefited the communities and not to be selfish and greedy.

Being a lone students from Middle Watut to enter Papua New Guinea University of Technology means a lot for the him and so are his community obligation.

Born and raise in the remote Kapin Village in Middle Watut and receive education in Two Mile settlement in Lae has a painful experienced in it, something this young man who easily shed tears when remembering it. Given the painful six hours walk to and from to reach the main Bulolo National Highway to catch PMV to Lae to attend school and access Education from Primary, Secondary and Tertiary is very difficult, but needs personal commitment.

He started his Primary School in 1994 at Haicoast Community School, He than went to Lae Provincial High School in 2000 than to Bugandi Secondary School in 2004.

In 2009, Reuben quit his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture studies at Papua New Guinea University of Technology out of frustration in which his local people rights were being deprived and ignored by the Government and the foreign Mining Companies and with the help of community leaders, he set up the Union of Watut River Communities Association Incorporated, an organization to be the mouthpiece of people living along Watut River with a vision "to make Watut River Communities free of irresponsible development and government activities".

To provide that, Reuben spends much of his time patrolling the Middle and Lower Watut village by village along the river by foot to consult and observe the burden of the communities and selling his idea to organize the communities to have a strong voice against the Hidden Valley Mine and the Papua New Guinea Government Mining and Environment Regulators such as Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) to look into the plight of the local people by which mining has brought to them affecting them socio- economically.

A joined meeting was organized in June 29, 2009 to get all community leaders of Watut River Communities to attend and a petition was drafted. The petition was then presented to the than Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon. Benny Allan, MP on September 11, 2009.

"I began looking for ways to overcome this burden my people are facing, and figured that I need to organize my people somehow, empowered them with factual information, having more discussions trough forums and meetings, and use the peoples power to foster recognition for change." Reuben said.

His achievement includes making the issue a national issue in Papua New Guines by making headlines in media (Print, Audio and Visual) as well as running campaigns using internet, blogs and social media.

Out of their initial petition, the National Executive Council has engaged an Australian base company - Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation; in 2010 to carry an independent assessment into the watut river system. Out of which, the following were being noted:
* The report confirmed that there were elevated levels of arsenic, cobalt, lead, manganese, iron, mercury and free cyanide in excess of permit requirements released into the river system.
* The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has not been updated since November 2009. The EMP does not meet the ISO 14001 requirements and has not been approved in accordance with Permit No. WD-L3 (50)
* Waste management is not done in accordance with the Waste Management Plan,
* Hydro- Meteorology Monitoring data reported,
* Poorly implementation of Monitoring, Quality Assurance and Training Procedures,
* High Level sediments discharges,

NB: Major non compliances that Department of Environment and Conservation just accepted.

"The last resort we have is to take the matter to court. The Government and the Mining owners knew that very well but they also knew that we don't have the money to find a good lawyer to represent us", Reuben said.

"The mining effects are now started to shown clear now. The Death of fish along Watut and Markham River, sediments build up, skin diseases, deformed children being born, dieback, river bed rises destroying food gardens and economical and cultural crops. Most of this are new things happening in the communities very recently after the mine." Reuben said.

He also said that they still have faith and hope to see trough that the matter must be address amicably with proper compensation given to the communities whose rights are being deprived as a result of mining in Hidden Valley.

Today, the Union of Watut River Communities are using mobile phones as well as social media and the internet to provided a new platform for its campaign. The Watut River site - www.watutriver.org, and Watut River Cries Facebook page will provides information on communities concerns and social and political matters relating to environmental issues and human rights.

The organization does not have any financial support or assistance but believes will carry its campaigns trough its sacrificial by the dedicated and committed Committees Members.



......................
For Donations:
Union of Watut River Communities Association
Account No. 1005699408
Bank South Pacific.

Thanking the O'Niell Namah Government.

By Watut Reporter

The Union of Watut River Communities Inc (UoWRC Inc.)has thank the O,Neil Namah Government in overthrowing the former Abal Government in making changes. They also thank the government for not giving a Ministerial portfolio to Mr Benny Allan, former Environment and Conservation Minister.

UoWRC Inc also pledge to work close with the new Mining and Environment and Conservation Minister to see concerns of the Middle Watut Communities along the Watut River over Hidden Valley Mining Joint Venture is redress and thank Hon Bron Chan an Thomson Harokaqveh respectively.

UoWRC Inc has brassed aside comments that UoWRC Members have been accepting compensation payment from the Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) over its damage to the Watut River and would bring their plight to the new Government.

Mr Reuben Mete, who is President of UoWRC is now in Port Moresby aiming to resort the Middle Watut communities of Mumeng LLG concerns once and for all.

In response to the release of the SMEC report by DEC & MMJV regarding the Watut River Sedimentation.

By Samuel H. Basil on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 8:51pm

Honourable Sam Basil, MP Bulolo & Deputy Opposition Leader.

July 13, 2011

Thank you fellow leaders, Ministers, Mine-affected community reps, MMJV reps, chairman, ladies and gentlemen.

As the Member for Bulolo, I am pleased that the Department of Environment and Conservation through the Inter-Agency Environmental Expert Committee (IAEAC) are willing to come down to the level of the Provincial and Local Level Government and even to where my people live to engage with us on the issues affecting us.

That positive step took almost 22 months. I personally delivered the petition prepared by the local people through the UoWRC to the DEC in September 2009.

Naturally Chair, I am not very impressed with the duration and time it took for DEC to finally comedown to us as IAEAC. The Government through the bureaucracy must be seen to be responsive to the people’s concerns.

The longer DEC takes, the more my local people along the Upper/Middle and even the lower reaches of Watut who access and use the Watut River will suffer from all the negative and maybe even dangerous byproducts that MMJV Mine is producing and discharging daily into the river system.

I believe this committee was solely formed as a result of the September 2009 petition to DEC. What I also understand is that DEC, after the September 2009, engaged an independent consultancy firm, SMEC to carry out an Independent Environmental Performance Audit of Hidden Valley Gold Mine. That Audit also involved an Assessment of the Mine Derived Sediment. It took the entire 2010 for DEC to work with MMJV to get their act together before this face-to-face meeting with the people. I believe DEC would not have responded to the issues or formed the Expert Committee if there was no petition from us.

Chair, I was given a copy of the SMEC reports just last week Friday and had a quick look at the reports.

 Let me highlight some observations from the report.

The Report was first prepared on June 6, 2010, then went through a total of 3 revisions with resulting in the finalized version on November 19, 2010. The main key objectives of the audit were:

 a) To assess mine performance with regard to permitting compliance and Environmental Management

b) To assess offsite impacts due to historic and current mine activities;

c) Therefore, enhance DEC’s capacity to effectively monitor and regulate the future operation of the mine as well as provide the basis for the formulation of an appropriate response to the Watut River Community

Chair, the SMEC report confirmed that from the two Permits (Waste Discharge & Water Extraction) issued in April 2006 to March 2010, there were a total of 10 non-compliances and 30 partial compliance conditions out of the total 73 conditions. This is 54.8% non or partial compliance to the permits issued by DEC.

Not only that, the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which was granted with 11 conditions in April 2006 was not updated by March 2010 audit. The EMP did not significantly meet ISO 14000. This is an international standard on Environmental Management aspect.

The report confirmed that the environmental management is not properly coordinated and there has been generally poor response in resolving permit non-compliances.

What I and my people fail to understand is how despite the EMP for MMJV project not being compliant to ISO 14000, DEC saw fit to allow the project to go ahead. Permit No. WD-L3 (50) was also not followed.

The EMP was said to have been updated since August 2009. Coincidently, that might have been triggered again by the petition put in by the UoWRC (Sept 2009).

The report confirmed that the soil and surface water and erosion management requirements were not fully implemented across the site. There were significant erosion issues associated with unstable slopes and waste dumps. There is no permit limit or adopted target for suspended solids concentration in water drainage off the site.

DEC has again failed to establish clearly the target for suspended solid concentration in water drainage off the site. That alone should result in disallowing MMJV to discharge waste excessively off site.

The report also pointed out that the waste management was not done in accordance with the Waste Management Plan. There was no waste register or evidence that waste minimization and re-use programs were fully implemented across the site.

The landfill was poorly located and managed, and posed an ongoing environmental risk.

This significantly throws away the principle of sustainable mining practice. So where have all the hazardous and toxic mine wastes generated over the years gone to? Where were they disposed? It does not take a rocket scientist to work out they were disposed into the Watut River! There was no thorough ground water monitoring done to assess the bioavailability of hydrocarbons, VOC, PCB, and other environmental persistent chemicals.

Chair, the SMEC report confirmed that these waste treatment systems appear to be overloaded and unable to treat wastewater to permit standards. There was potential for downstream pathogenic and nutrient contamination, which poses a health threat to downstream inhabitants.

This indicates high potential of raw wastewater discharge downstream. Riverine communities and alluvial miners can and may still be easily be affected. Highly raw pathogenic contamination of the river system which can easily affect/influence the river health balance. That in turn is highly unhygienic and harmful, especially when the river communities use the river for drinking, laundry and washing cooking utensils daily.

This also has the potential of aggravating skin irritation and affects small sores or cuts on the epidermal layer of the skin especially on the foot or below the waist line. Issues raised by pregnant women bathing or crossing the river resulting in other health concerns can also be clearly linked to this.

It was also reported that there have been a number of recent studies examining ecological impacts. These include undertaking flora and fauna monitoring. A wide range of recommendations have been proposed, however, there was no consolidated program to implement recommendations and monitor their effectiveness.

I wonder what the extent of the ecological monitoring program is. Ok Tedi Mining undertakes studies even to the Mount of the Fly River and the nearby Kiwai Island. Although, MMJV is not permitted to dump their waste tailings onto the Watut River, the extent of the mined sedimentation that is already end up in the river system will obviously reach the junction of Watut/Markham River and ends up at the Huon Gulf. As the duty of care to the environment and also in line with the principle of best sustainable mining practice, that should be the extent of their ecological monitoring program.

The report revealed that MMJV’s monitoring program includes fortnightly air quality monitoring at three monitoring stations located at Manki, Upanda and Hikinagowe villages. None of the monitoring stations were operational during the time of the audit due to local disputes. Monitoring data collected at Manki village station was sighted – and this indicated no monitoring program since January 2009.

The report also mentioned that the hydro-Meteorology monitoring data was last reported in the April-June 2009 Environment Monitoring Report. This included river gauging and stream flow data for Pihema creek off take site for the second quarter of 2009. It also reported meteorological data including rainfall, humidity, barometric pressure, solar radiation, wind speed and direction, and evaporation. Monitoring data has not been reported since June, reportedly due to the resignation of the site Hydrologist.

The audit found that monitoring, quality assurance and training procedures have been poorly implemented. The data management system is not effectively monitored and controlled, with no data recorded since June 2009. There have been a number of reported non-compliances with Permit conditions; however there was no evidence to indicate that appropriate remedial actions have been undertaken. This is a clear non-compliance to this very important monitoring program.

It seems most of the non-compliance happened in 2009 prior to the submission of the UoWRC petition. Again the question of, if the petition was not submitted, would MMJV continue with its non-compliance? This is a seriously poor practice that has been allowed without any penalty being imposed.

This might possibly mean MMJV management can still report non-compliant data convincingly to DEC and they can still accept non-compliant annual reports without checking.

A major issue is the monitoring and management of sediment discharges. Historic data indicates high concentrations of sediment in receiving waters. There is currently no Permit requirement or management targets adopted for suspended solids.

DEC has not clearly established a permit limit for suspended solids. How can they impose control and compliance if they don’t have a benchmark to work with? Does that still mean that we can use WHO criteria or Australian guideline?

Chair, even the water samples taken during the audit showed elevated levels of arsenic, cobalt, lead, manganese, iron, mercury and free cyanide in excess of Permit requirements. That is normally the case, when wastes are discharged into the stream continually. They can easily be traced immediately downstream and near the source of discharge. As you move further downstream, due to dilution and buffering capacity of the flowing river, the traces disappear.

That evidence alone indicates the sub-standard method of waste management being practiced by MMJV where Toxic chemicals being discharged directly into Watut River. What is DEC doing?

 Offsite Impacts/Issues

Based on a review of relevant documentation, including MMJV’s annual and quarterly compliance reports, it is likely that mine activities have significantly contributed to high sediment loads in the Watut river, particularly in the Upper and Middle sections of the river. Major sources of sediment relate to pre-stripping/sidecasting activities, un-engineered waste dumps and landslides. A recent study (Pickup and Hargreaves 2009) concluded that approximately 20-30 metric tonnes of waste rock material have entered the Watut River system as a direct result of mine activities. The study also found that mine derived debris moving down the Kaveroi and Upper Watut channels has severely scoured the valley walls, resulting in increased risks for slumping of additional sediment and rock into the channel, and generation of mudflows during large rainfall events.

This confirms all the concerns about river sedimentation. It is a very sad fact and I believe DEC should squarely be liable as well for not responding immediately. Sedimentation has resulted in mass starvation of vegetation and plants along the river bank and aquatic life.

The report also indicated that suspended solid levels in the Watut river began to increase in mid 2007, which coincides with the timing of intensified mine construction. Up to late 2009 suspended solids concentrations were consistently in the range 5,000mg/L to 12,000 mg/L. This trend reversed in around mid 2009 when dumping (side casting) to the Eastern Dump ceased, leading to less, but still significant (>2,000 mg/L) sediment discharges to the river.

Obviously, mining activity at the upstream was the prime contributor to high level of sedimentation and as a result elevated suspended solid levels as indicated. Results greater than 2000mg/L is still significantly high. Water samples taken during the audit showed elevated levels of arsenic, cobalt, lead, manganese, iron, mercury and free cyanide in excess of Permit requirements.

Consequently there is potential for ecological and health related impacts on downstream inhabitants. No doubt, and again, mining activity at the upstream was the prime contributor to high level of sedimentation including elevated levels of arsenic, cobalt, lead, manganese, iron, mercury and free cyanide. The levels exceeded the limits specified in the Permit.

Now, the operation was NOT suspended by DEC, WHY? There were inconsistency observed within the internal systems of MMJV and yet the mine was allowed to operate. What standard are we using?

Also, due to elevated BOD and nitrogen levels in sewage effluent there was a high potential for pathogenic contamination of downstream waterways. This poses a serious health threat to downstream inhabitants. High nitrogen levels found in the effluent can cause algal blooms, oxygen depletion and degradation of waterways. Not sure whether DEC has notified the Health Dept about this. The Health Dept. should immediately engage an independent assessment on this issue. Obviously, the Health minister should explain this to his people at Lower Watut and Huon Gulf himself.

Chair, a number of studies have been undertaken to assess biodiversity impacts from mine related operations. Generally all studies conclude that biodiversity has been affected to varying degrees by high sediment loads and metal accumulation. The most recent study (Hidden Valley Aquatic Biology Gap Survey, 2010: Hydrobiology Pty Ltd (Environmental Services, DRAFT) confirmed that the biodiversity of the upper Watut River has been severely impacted by elevated sedimentation levels, with increased metals availability also a possible contributory factor to these changes in the river during the mine construction phase.

The study has clearly indicated the impact to biodiversity due to high sedimentation with increased metal bioavailability to plants and aquatic life. Has DEC impose any penalty yet to MMJV? Delay tactic and yes, of course, leave the environment to recover itself over time!

Didn’t the mine operator mentioned in their approved EMP that they will as much as possible minimize any damage to the environment, in this case, the biodiversity?SMEC report also highlighted that other than some anecdotal data and the claim made by the Union of Watut River Community in the petition, there was no report or data available to confirm that mine-derived sediment has caused reduction in income of the river communities.

In contrast a decline in fish population is, however, evident from the study conducted by Hydrobiology. This may not have had any impact on the people’s income as there is no evidence of commercial fishing in the Watut River. There is no evidence of reduction in crop production due to high sediment in the river.

To manage this, MMJV has engaged Dr John Burton to carry-out the socio-economic survey in order for them to understand that knowledge gap.

The report also mentioned that other than a few anecdotal records there were no data on mine-related health issues in the Watut River communities available during the SMEC study. However, based on audit findings the mine may be impacting on river communities in the following ways:

- Depletion of fish resources and a source of protein rich food;

- Some metals released into the waterway can cause skin related diseases.

- Consumption of fishes with elevated level of metals may also pose threats to human health; and poorly treated sewage effluent can potentially result in a range of health related issues such as diarrhoea, dysentery and stomach ache, and in some cases more serious diseases.

SMEC may not have the data/report or the statement may have been told to them by mine operator. The fact is they haven’t done any study on this. That is why to manage this; they have engaged Dr Keith Bentley to do a market basket survey as part of the Health Risk Assessment in order for them to appreciate that knowledge gap.

SMEC confirmed in the report that the Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the MMJV was undertaken based on the sediment load being distributed equally between the Bulolo and the Watut River systems. However as part of the works and the placement of the mine sites this has been amended to show that there is now a 90/10 split between the Watut and Bulolo Rivers. This increase in potential sediment load to the Watut River and potential environmental and social impacts were not assessed prior to construction of the mine.

That leaves us to still question, why the DEC Minister had a secret flight to meet with MMJV management and to see the issues first hand without notifying Morobe Provincial Government, Bulolo District or me the local MP.

Chair, this are very serious – and dangerous flaws. Their impact and implications are long-lasting on the water source health and even lives of the people. They signal a lack of confidence in MMJV as a trustworthy development partner and investor. But worse of all, the attitude of the Department of Environment and Conservation together with the Minister involved, to these issues completely goes against the democratic idea of governance. Instead of democratic governance being for the people – this is completely against the people.

This is the reason why there is growing pressure for the Government to relinquish its option on equity in mining projects to landowners, LLGs and the districts and assume the role of being regulator and tax collector more.

I hope my presentation based on the hard work of many experts and professionals will cause all stakeholders to do the right thing – for all our collective benefit – and especially the people living along the riverine areas from near the mine site all the way to the coast of Huon Gulf.

Thank you very much.

Three more Watut Leaders Arrested.

By Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

Three leaders from the Union of Watut River Communities have been arrested in Bulolo this morning and charged with criminal damage, apparently in relation to an attack on a Hidden Valley mine vehicle.
The Union of Watut River Communities is leading a campaign against the Hidden Valley mine over its pollution of the Watut river with acid forming rocks which has disrupted the lives of thousands of people who rely on the river for food, transport and cash incomes.
The alleged damage to the mine vehicle occurred when mine employees, accompanied by local police who were acting as security guards, illegally entered community land to collect river water samples two weeks ago. In contrast, the mine owners has refused permission for scientists engaged by local people to enter the mine site to collect water samples for independent testing.
Two other Watut Union leaders, Reuben Mete and Phillip Yalamo, were released from prison this week after spending the long-weekend in jail for the non payment of fines relating to the damage of another Hidden Valley mine vehicle last year.
The Hidden Valley mine is jointly owned and operated by Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold.

Barrick Gold Facing more International Criticism.

Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold, owner of the controversial Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea and a major investor in the Solwara 1 deep-sea mine, is in the media again as more allegations of serious human rights abuses and collusion with a corrupt and brutal police force emerge at one of its African mines.

In an African mine, the lust for gold sparks a deadly clash

Geoffrey York*

The morning of May 16 began like many others. Carrying hammers and rucksacks, hundreds of Tanzanian villagers trudged to the mountain of waste rock at dawn expecting to make another illicit deal with the heavily armed police who protect it.

Two hours later, at least five villagers were dead and many others wounded – gunned down by police at the gold mine owned by a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation of Toronto.

The shooting, the latest in a series of deadly incidents at the mine over the past several years, raises troubling questions about Barrick’s security agreement with a notoriously corrupt police force that routinely extracts bribes from the villagers who enter the North Mara mine to scavenge for traces of gold.

It also provokes questions about Barrick’s decision to keep operating in the anarchic conditions around its mining site, where violent confrontations are common, allegations of police abuses are frequent and deaths are inevitable.

During a five-day visit to the North Mara Mine and the surrounding villages, The Globe and Mail witnessed an atmosphere of conflict and intimidation. Interviews with injured survivors of the May 16 shootings and other witnesses suggest that most of the villagers were unarmed or carrying only stones when they were shot. The witnesses, along with the local police commander, have contradicted the company’s assertion that hundreds of people attacked the police with machetes, hammers and rocks.

The interviews also documented the widespread corruption of police at the mine, which the company is now investigating. African Barrick Gold, which is 74-per-cent owned by Barrick Gold Corp., confirmed to The Globe and Mail that it is investigating “whether employees and police have participated in a fraudulent scheme of accepting money for access to the site by illegal miners.” It said it has “provided these allegations to the police.”

According to police, there were 800 to 1,200 villagers at the mine on May 16. The number of scavengers was larger than usual because of information that the waste rock on that day would include high-quality rocks – information that is routinely passed on to the scavengers by mine employees and by the police themselves, according to the villagers and the Tanzanian media.

Normally, villagers say, the police accept bribes of up to several dollars a person in exchange for allowing them onto the mine site, but the bribes can be paid only when the villagers enter in small groups – so on May 16 the police were trying to break the scavengers into small groups. When they refused, the police fired into the air, and then began shooting directly at the villagers, witnesses said.

The police are investigating whether their officers were justified in opening fire on May 16, and in a series of earlier shootings at the mine. Barrick is also asking the police to investigate allegations of sexual assault by about a dozen police and security guards at the mine.

In every case, however, the police will be investigating themselves – something that is unlikely to reassure the 68,000 people in the villages around the mine, who see the police as corrupt and dishonest.

The facts of the May 16 shootings – and even the casualty numbers – are still in dispute. The police say five people were killed and three injured. The company initially said seven were killed and 12 injured but now says only five were killed. The survivors say the numbers were much higher.

Regardless of the numbers, there is evidence that at least some of the victims were shot from behind as they were fleeing. Tundu Lissu, an opposition member of the Tanzanian Parliament and a longtime critic of Barrick, says the unofficial autopsies on four shooting victims show they were shot from behind.

Two injured survivors say the same. Nelson Charles, a 22-year-old who has scavenged rocks from North Mara for the past three years, is hiding from the police because of rumours that they will arrest anyone who was injured in the May 16 shooting. But when he is tracked down for a long interview, he lifts his arm to reveal his gunshot wound. The bullet entered the back of his arm and exited through the front, supporting his story that he was shot by police as he ran for his life. On that morning, he says, he was carrying only the tools of his trade: a hammer and a bottle of water to wash the waste rocks as he searched for traces of gold.

Maulidi Issa, who has made a living from the waste rocks for the past 11 years, was shot in the hand in the same incident. He says he was unarmed and fleeing when the bullet hit him. Two other witnesses agree that they saw no weapons among the intruders.

Barrick will not comment on details of the shooting, except to say that the police were under fierce attack when they opened fire. “We are aware that the police have highly unimpeachable evidence establishing that masses of intruders invaded the area from many directions, that the police attempted to repel them using gas while coming under sustained attack, that police attempted to retreat from oncoming invaders, and again used gas to attempt to halt the attack, before they were overwhelmed and forced to defend themselves with live ammunition,” the company said in a statement to The Globe and Mail.

The company continues to insist that machetes and other weapons were used against the police. But it would not give any estimate of the number.

Constantine Massawe, the regional police commander in Tarime, the region where the mine is located, gave a different account. Nobody attacked the police with machetes, and the seven injuries among the police were all caused by stones, he said.

Mr. Massawe said the police opened fire on the villagers because they were throwing stones at police vehicles when the police tried to disperse them. In the past, he said, the police would retreat when stones were thrown, but this time they decided to shoot. He said the police are now investigating “whether there was a necessity for shooting or not.”

Mr. Lissu, one of several politicians and journalists arrested by police in Tarime in the days after the shooting, said that while in jail he met more than 20 villagers who had also been arrested. They were charged only with theft of waste rocks, and none was charged with any weapons offences, he said.

Mr. Charles, the injured survivor, said he personally saw two people shot dead near him on May 16. One of them was a bystander who wasn’t even involved in rock scavenging, he said. “He was just wondering what was going on.”

He said he had been running away for several minutes when he was hit by the police bullet. “Everyone was running and shouting and trying to save their lives. It was a massacre. I was shocked – normally the police only shoot in the air.”

Figures provided by Barrick show that an average of about 800 people trespass on the mine site every day, and 70 stoning incidents were recorded in the first five months of this year alone. The company notes that it has signed an agreement with the Tanzanian police requiring its officers to use “only the minimum force necessary to control any violent situation” and requiring them to follow international human-rights standards.

In the past, the company erected a fence to keep out trespassers, but it was torn down by the villagers. Now it is planning to spend $14-million to build a three-metre-high concrete wall for 12 kilometres around all of the mine pits and waste heaps – topped by electrified razor wire.

The villagers predict that the concrete wall, too, will soon be breached. In this impoverished and remote region of East Africa, they believe that Barrick’s massive mountain of waste rocks is their only hope of economic survival – and they will do anything to keep it open.

* Globe and Mai