Sierra Leoneans sue government for alleged environmental failings at diamond mine
Sierra Leoneans living next to the country's largest diamond mine are taking their government to West Africa's regional court for failing to protect them from alleged environmental lapses by the company that runs it, a subsidiary of Octea Limited.
The complaint, filed to the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) court of justice on Thursday, alleges that the
government failed to act when residents of Koidu, the largest city in the
diamond-rich Kono district, complained about water contamination and damage to
their houses from blasting at the mine.
It also said the government had failed to ensure that the
company relocate hundreds of households away from the blasting site, as
required by Octea's 2003 mining license agreement.
"The State has violated (the plaintiffs') right to a
suitable environment," it said.
The complaint follows a lawsuit filed by the residents
against Octea in Sierra Leone's High Court in March seeking an unspecified
amount in damages for "degradation or destruction of land, destruction of
homes and loss of livelihoods and ... dumping of toxic mine waste," among
other allegations.
On July 22, a judge ruled that case was "adjourned for
judicial recess" until the end of September.
Octea, a subsidiary of BSG Resources, founded by Israeli
billionaire Beny Steinmetz, did not respond to emailed requests for comment on
Thursday. It has described the accusations in the March case as "baseless
and without merit."
The Sierra Leone government also rejects the complaints as
unfounded.
"It's our job to conduct regular evaluations of
[Octea's] conduct in regards to the environment, and we have never found them
not to be compliant," said Ibrahim Turay, regional representative for the
Environmental Protection Agency in Kono District.
He added that it was mainly residents who refused to go to
the resettlement area who were continuing to have problems.
The cases highlight how communities in developing countries
are becoming emboldened to use courts to pursue grievances against
international mining firms.
In the new complaint, the residents demand the government
address their concerns and pay compensation "for their emotional suffering
resulting from their degraded quality of life and health, and the instability
and uncertainty of their resettlement status."
The complaint also alleges that the Sierra Leone government
failed to protect its citizens when security forces killed four people during
protests against the mine in 2007 and 2012.
Seven plaintiffs say police opened fire on demonstrators and
bystanders, killing two people at each protest, court documents show. Four of
the plaintiffs say they were shot while fleeing the scene or while hiding from
police.
A spokesman for Sierra Leone's security services did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.
Following the 2007 and 2012 incidents, Octea subsidiary
Koidu Limited made a goodwill payment to Sierra Leone's mines ministry to
disburse to victims of the violence, the complaint filed on Thursday said.
Koidu Limited has not acknowledged making any payment.
Ibrahim Bokarie, a community activist and plaintiff who was
shot in the foot during the 2007 protest, said he received 3,000,000 leones
($313) towards his medical bills but that it was insufficient.
"Even with a new government in place, it's the same old
story," he told Reuters. "That's why we're challenging the government
in an international court. Enough is enough."
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