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Article

11 Jan 2017

Author:
RAID

RAID's rejoinder to Acacia Mining's response

"Rights and Accountability in Development’s (RAID) Rejoinder"

Mr Nyamokomo’s video was posted as part of the official record of the proceedings of the Fifth UN Forum on BHR, which took place in November 2016.  The case history, which included Acacia’s rebuttal, was already in the public domain.

In previous reports (see for example ‘Adding Insult to Injury at the North Mara Gold Mine, Tanzania’ September 2016, published jointly with MiningWatch Canada) RAID has expressed concern about the unsatisfactory way in which potential claims are investigated by mine staff; Acacia fails to take into consideration that impoverished claimants are easily intimidated and fearful to bring a complaint against the police, who operate with complete impunity. RAID and MiningWatch Canada are also aware of many cases where medical records are incomplete or inaccurate and in some instances have even been falsified. Mr Nyamokomo’s decision to go on record – stating that he was beaten and injured by police guarding the mine – should be viewed in the wider context of the obstacles and dilemmas facing claimants. RAID will continue to press Acacia for a satisfactory resolution of Mr Nyamokomo’s case.

Despite the large number of deaths and serious injuries at North Mara attributed to mine security operations over many years, no one has been prosecuted for or held to account for these violations. Acacia has drawn up a memorandum of understanding with the Tanzanian police who guard its mine site and the company has to accept some responsibility for their conduct.