Newmont Shareholders Groups Support Un Decision And Western Shoshone
Published by MAC on 2006-04-25http://www.wsdp.org/minewatch.htm#newmont042406
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More information: WSDP - J. Fishel, 775-397-1371
25th April 2006
Denver, Colorado (April 25, 2006). After an historic United Nations decision last month, a coalition of Newmont Mining shareholder groups have called upon Chairman and CEO Wayne Murdy, to respect the UN decision and to "develop a policy toward Native American peoples in the United States and address the specific concerns of the Western Shoshone." (Letter attached hereto). A delegation of Western Shoshone will address the CEO and Board of Newmont during today's Annual General Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Newmont currently operates gold mines across Western Shoshone territory in Nevada - equating to nearly 40% of its equity base and is seeking a host of new exploration in the area. Last month, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) rejected the United States' claim that Western Shoshone lands somehow transferred to "federal" or U.S. ownership putting into question the legality of Newmont and other corporations operating on these lands without Western Shoshone consent. (CERD decision attached).
The Shareholder sign on letter was led by Boston Common Asset Management and includes six other faith-based health and investment services groups. In the communication, the shareholders call upon Newmont to:
- recognize and comply with the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley (recognizing Western Shoshone land ownership);
- maintain the cultural and spiritual integrity of the lands, protect the environment (namely on issues of dewatering, cyanide use and mercury emissions);
- establish a Western Shoshone advisory committee, with inclusion of Western Shoshone in decision-making, transparency of company information and financial and technical assistance;
- comply with Treaty obligations for "fair compensation", including revenue sharing and royalty commitments, training and employment, joint venture work and scholarship and youth funding; and
- establish a dispute resolution mechanism between the company and the Western Shoshone.
Kristi Begay, Western Shoshone leader who addressed Newmont last year and returned this year: "We want to thank the shareholder groups for their support. Our land, water and air is sacred to us and is recognized by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley and yet the government and the companies have been acting as if it means nothing. Our voice and our message remain unwaivering. We are here to speak for the land and for our inherent rights as traditional Western Shoshone and will continue to do so until our voice is heard and respected." Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmother: "U.S. laws violate our basic rights as indigenous peoples - the U.S. claims that it can take Indian lands and push Indian peoples aside whenever and however it wants - that violates our human rights. If Newmont allows its company to merely go by those discriminatory laws, then they are a party to those violations as well. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination agreed with us last month and has told the U.S. to "freeze" any efforts to privatize our lands, and to "stop" any new mining projects or other resource extraction and exploitation."
Joseph Moon, Western Shoshone: "As a young native, I want to know more about these mining companies who are impacting our land, water, air and traditional beliefs. I want them to know that we, as young people, care about the survival of our people as Western Shoshone and we are part of this struggle. With elders passing on that just helps our bond become stronger and we realize more and more that we need to carry that torch as our elders have before us."
Julie Fishel, Western Shoshone Defense Project stated: "We are very pleased to receive the support of the shareholders. For too long, corporations have reaped huge benefits off the ongoing legacy of physical and spiritual genocide of indigenous peoples, and the destruction of our land, air and water. Times are changing and this behavior will no longer be tolerated. We are very disappointed in Newmont's posturing last year that they would listen to Shoshone concerns and instead, they turned around and supported the U.S. Mining Industry's legislative push to open up these same lands for privatization to benefit the companies. The United Nations committee was resoundingly clear on the issue of privatization and new exploration of mining: it must stop now."
Western Shoshone Defense Project
P.O. Box 211308
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
775-468-0230
775-468-0237 (fax)
http://www.wsdp.org
wsdp@igc.org