April 18 2002

April 18 2002

Since the British-Australian mining giant, Rio Tinto, took over ERA last year, it has assumed control of two of the world's most important uranium resources: the operating Ranger mine and the Jabiluka deposit, both in the Kakadu region of Australias' Northern Territory. At this year's annual general meetings - one held in London, the other in Melbourne - the company came under heavy fire on both accounts. At the Rio Tinto plc AGM in London on April 11th, Lyndon Ormond-Parker presented a statement on behalf of the Mirrar people that they already rejected mining on their territory and they called on the company to quit immediately. Then, on Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV, Norman Fry of the Northern (Aboriginal) Land Council threatened closure of the Ranger mine if recent official allegations of mismanagement were to be confirmed.