As part of his ongoing investigation into the KEMEDUGU incident, Tonkilili District Descendants Association Secretary-general Aruna Bundu recently contacted the African Minerals Limited office in London to explain their side of the story. Here is their response:
Dear Mr Arun Bundu,
Please find attached and below a statement from African Minerals.
Kind regards
Klara
PRESS STATEMENT
This document is prepared in relation to activities within the Kemedugu community and within the village of Kemedugo, and more specifically the reports of violence in the Company’s Tonkolili mine site area on 25 November 2010.
On the 25th November 2010, a group of young adults from the Kemedugu village, headed by an ex-employee who had been dismissed for theft, initiated an attack of limited vandalism during which one of the reconnaissance drill rigs belonging to African Minerals Limited (“AML”) was damaged.
Such an action was not supported by the general community, the various Chiefdom representatives, nor the Paramount Chief, and was the isolated action of a group of discontented persons.
AML has been working peacefully, and with the full support of the community and residents, in the Kemedugu area for many years and has built, amongst other things education establishments and fresh water supply for residents of the community.
The Company has complied with all of its obligations in terms of remediation, licensing, and obtaining all necessary approvals, including local community approvals, for its activities.
AML continues to work, collaborate, and consult with the communities affected by its operations and is committed to complying with the Equator Principles, an internationally recognised set of benchmarks for managing the environmental and social impacts of large projects.
As an example of our commitment to our social and environmental responsibility, in December 2009 the Company was awarded the prestigious International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) Award, recognised by the United Nations. Specifically African Minerals’ Tonkolili Iron Ore and Infrastructure Projects were recognized for the "Most Effective Corporate Social Responsibility Project".
A series of chiefdom committees within and between chiefdoms have been operating to address various issues between the community and AML as they are raised.
“We have been settling our grievances with the company through dialogue”, states spokesman Alphonso Bangura of MABEN (The Coalition of Youths Organisations for Kalansogoia, Kafe Simiria and Samaia Bendugu Chiefdoms), “and such actions as have been perpetrated are unlawful and unproductive and do not reflect the voice and actions of the youths of the Chiefdom.”
AML appreciates the demonstration of support and solidarity of the local authorities and the people, including the District Council and the Government of Sierra Leone, since the occurrence of the incident.
Klara Kaczmarek
Account Director
Photo: Klara Kaczmarek of African Minerals.
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