Gold mine protesters leave area

Gold mine protesters leave area

18th April 2006

http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200604/1617800.htm?centralwest

Police say protesters who set up camp near the Lake Cowal gold mine in central New South Wales at the weekend have moved on.

Barrick Gold had to halt production on Easter Sunday when about 30 protesters ran into the mine quarry - one chaining himself to machinery.

Eight people were charged with trespassing and they are due to face West Wyalong court next month.

The group said it wanted to stop the delivery of cyanide to the mine but police this morning say they have left the area.

One of the protesters, Benny Zable, says they will continue the fight.

"I feel very strongly about this mine because this mine is using cyanide. It's ... divided the Aboriginal community ... a lot of the Aboriginal community don't even realise they've been taken, that they shouldn't have agreed to this mine and you'll hear more about it," he said.

Mr Zable refused to agree to the original bail condition that he stay five kilometres from the mine, describing it as unreasonable.

He challenged that in Wagga Court yesterday and bail was changed to bar his entry to Barrick's property at Cowal.

"I just feel really, really degraded by the way I was treated from the mine site and all the way down here," he said.

"I think the way people like us, especially who are raising issues of life and death issues on this planet at the moment, you known need to be given better treatment."