Gold Fields should pull out of Tibet
November 18, 2003
The article, "Gold Fields to build up its interest in China" (November 11), does not point out that Gold Fields, through its holdings in Sino Gold, is engaged in the exploration, proving and development of a gold mine at Jinkang in the eastern part of occupied Tibet.
Tibet was invaded by China in 1949 and has been occupied ever since. The Chinese authorities not only persecute Tibetans, but also deny their rights to self-determination and engagement in their country's future.
Colonisation includes the undermining of the Tibetan culture by the massive migration of Han Chinese and the marginalisation of Tibetan language and social structures.
Sino Gold is poised to be the first foreign-owned mining company to open a mine in Tibet.
This will set a precedent for other mining companies to exploit Tibetan resources over and above the problematic posed by the exploitation of non-renewable mineral resources in an occupied country. The development of mining operations in Tibet will accelerate the influx of Han Chinese settlers and poses a serious threat to the environment.
The gold deposits in question are associated with arsenic iron sulphide and mercury sulphide.
The likely means by which the deposits will be mined is to use the cyanide heap-leach process, which entails digging up the ore, crushing it and piling it into large heaps. Cyanide solution is then sprayed on the ore heaps. The cyanide dissolves the gold, which is recovered from the cyanide solution after it has been collected.
Because of the geological setting of the gold deposit where the terrain is steep and dissected and earthquakes are common and in an environment of weather extremes, the risks of massive pollution and environmental damage are enormous.
Labour and environmental standards in Chinese-occupied Tibet are appaling. Its rates are in the region 400 yuan (R335) a month. Health and safety conditions are notoriously poor.
The People's Republic of China has one of the worst worker safety records for the mining industry (alongside South Africa), estimated at 5 000 deaths a year.
The use of forced or prison labour is common. At gold mines run by the Chinese government in Dartsedo and Dawu counties, prisoners were compelled to fulfil daily excavator quotas despite meagre food and little sleep. If they do not fulfil their quota they are beaten. It is alleged that some prisoners commit suicide.
The Chinese authorities openly acknowledge the devastating environmental impact of mining across the country, where 20 000km2 of land has been destroyed or occupied by open cast mining and the stockpiling of waste. Only 4 percent of water released from mines is treated.
The biggest difficulty, however, with Gold Fields' involvement in Tibet is that Tibetans are unable to participate fully and frankly in decisions that affect their future.
The UN has recognised the Tibetans' right to self-determination, which includes the right to own, develop and control the use of their land and resources.
In a climate of fear and intimidation this is impossible.
The main role of Gold Fields and the other major South African investor in Sino Gold, Standard Bank (through its subsidiary Standard Bank London Limited), is to bankroll the smaller company by taking a minority shareholding in any project that may come up.
Australian-listed Sino Gold only has a market capitalisation of about $120 million and its association with big players like Gold Fields and Standard Bank is crucial to its success.
The South African Friends of Tibet (SAFT) is an organisation committed to establishing increased awareness of the plight of the Tibetan people and rallying supporters to their cause.
SAFT calls on Gold Fields and Standard Bank to ensure that Sino Gold ceases exploration at the Jinkang site and refrains from any exploration or mining activity in Tibet until Tibetans are in a position to freely express their wishes about the use of their resources.
Richard Spoor
South African Friends of Tibet
Nelspruit
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