DATE=7/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234937
TITLE=URANIUM PROTEST (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANDREW NETTE
DATELINE=JABILUKA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: POLICE IN AUSTRALIA'S NORTHERN TERRITORY ON FRIDAY
ARRESTED ONE HUNDRED SIX PEOPLE DURING A DEMONSTRATION AT ONE OF
THE WORLD'S RICHEST UNDEVELOPED URANIUM DEPOSITS, LOCATED IN THE
WORLD HERITAGE LISTED KAKADU NATIONAL PARK. ANDREW NETTE
REPORTS FROM JABILUKA, NEAR THE PROPOSED URANIUM MINE SITE, THAT
THE DISPUTE IS A CLASSIC BATTLE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND
MODERNIZATION ON ONE SIDE AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND NATIVE PEOPLE
ON THE OTHER.
TEXT: THE ARRESTS FOLLOWED A DAWN DEMONSTRATION BY MORE THAN
THREE HUNDRED ANTI-NUCLEAR PROTESTERS AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE
LEASE AREA OF THE JABILUKA MINE SITE, 200 KILOMETERS EAST OF
DARWIN. THOSE ARRESTED WERE TAKEN TO JAIL IN THE NEARBY MINING
TOWN OF JABIRU, BEFORE BEING TRANSPORTED EN MASSE TO DARWIN WHERE
THEY COULD BE HELD OVER THE WEEKEND, BEFORE BEING CHARGED, MOST
LIKELY WITH TRESPASSING ON MONDAY.
THE PROTEST WAS PART OF A BLOCKADE AT THE SITE BY ENVIRONMENT AND
PEACE GROUPS AND THE AREA'S TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS,
KNOWN AS THE MIRRAR. DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE
MARCH. FACING OFF AGAINST THEM IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST
MINING COMPANIES, ENERGY RESOURCES AUSTRALIA, OR E-R-A, WHICH HAS
THE BACKING OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO
BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF THE MINE.
E-R-A SAYS THE JABILUKA URANIUM DEPOSIT IS THE LARGEST IN
AUSTRALIA, WITH A POTENTIAL EXPORT VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN
BILLION DOLLARS TO NUCLEAR POWER COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES,
ASIA AND EUROPE. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY SAYS THE MINE WILL
PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS TO THE MIRRAR COMMUNITY IN THE FORM
OF MINING ROYALTIES, FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HOUSING .
THE MIRRAR, HOWEVER, SAY THEY WANT NO PART OF THE MINING
COMPANY'S MONEY AND ARE TOTALLY OPPOSED TO JABILUKA GOING AHEAD.
THEY SAY THEIR STRUGGLE IS FOR CULTURAL AND POLITICAL
SELF-DETERMINATION, CONTROL OF THEIR LAND AND AGAINST WHAT THEY
VIEW AS THE SERIOUS SOCIAL IMPACT MINING WILL BRING TO THEIR
SMALL COMMUNITY.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE OPPOSED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A URANIUM
MINE IN KAKADU, NAMED BY THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL
AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION FOR BOTH ITS NATURAL AND CULTURAL
VALUE.
IN ADDITION TO TAKING THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MINE ALL AROUND
AUSTRALIA, A DELEGATION OF MIRRAR PEOPLE RECENTLY VISITED A
UNESCO MEETING IN PARIS, WHERE THEIR LOBBIED FOR THE U-N
ORGANIZATION TO PUT KAKADU ON ITS LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE AREAS
ENDANGERED BY MINING.
ACCORDING TO KATE LECCHI, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE "STOP JABILUKA
CAMPAIGN," THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS SHOWS THE DEPTH OF PUBLIC
FEELING AGAINST URANIUM MINING IN AUSTRALIA:
/// LECCHI ACTUALITY ///
ONE POINT TO MAKE IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET
ARRESTED, BUT PEOPLE ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING AND THAT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR KIDS TO HAVE TO
LIVE IN A RADIOACTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT PEOPLE FROM
ALL OVER AUSTRALIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE
HERE SAYING NO TO JABILUKA AND NO TO URANIUM MINING.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
EXECUTIVES AT ENERGY RESOURCES AUSTRALIA'S SYDNEY HEADQUARTERS
COULD NOT BE BE CONTACTED ABOUT FRIDAY'S DEMONSTRATION, BUT ARE
ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT THE COMPANY WILL PUSH AHEAD WITH THE
MINE, REGARDLESS OF THE OPPOSITION. (SIGNED)
NEB/AN/FC
03-Jul-98 5:22 AM EDT (0922 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
