TURKEY: Australian goldmine crushes local people

September 13, 2000
Issue 

The Australian goldmining company Eurogold/Normandy is persisting in its attempts to mine in Bergama, Turkey, despite a 1999 Turkish High Court decision ordering it to cease operations. Local people have campaigned against the mine, using direct action and the courts, since 1989. Picture

Bergama is a peaceful agricultural town in western Turkey. The local people grow olives, cotton and a wide range of fruit and vegetables. The town is historically significant and in ancient times was known as Pergamon.

Many documentaries on the mine have been made, most notably Dead People Cannot Use Gold, which examined the dangers of Eurogold's use of cyanide in its mining processes.

When Eurogold started to remove thousands of olive trees, the local people protested and stated that the pain they felt was like they were losing a part of themselves. They demonstrated and continued the fight for nine years until Turkey's High Court eventually decided that Eurogold must stop operations. The outcome was unambiguous and meant that Eurogold must no longer grind the hills down for gold.

There was much celebration following the victory in the High Court. However, this was short lived when the environment minister deemed that the court's decision could not be applied.

The court's ruling is likely to be overturned due to international trade agreements. The Turkish parliament recently passed "the fortification law" which accepts the jurisdiction of foreign courts over foreign investments. According to this law, local people must go to court within the country in which the operating company is registered.

Eurogold is a multinational company, with more than 51% of its shareholders being in Australia. Following a visit to Turkey by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, during the ANZAC commemoration in April, it was suddenly announced that Eurogold's operations would start again in 2000.

It is an extremely daunting task for the villagers, with their limited resources, to fight a corporation backed by such international agreements. The Turkish people believe this is a travesty of justice and a form of imperialism. They feel a loss of control over the destiny of their environment.

The US Environment Protection Agency recently conducted research into the activities of goldmining companies. The research indicated that goldmining is one of the most polluting industries in the world.

The use of cyanide by Eurogold causes harm to the environment and poses a serious threat to people. It is a very dangerous heavy metal. Recently a group of eminent scientists went public in Turkey explaining the risks posed by cyanide. It can cause comas or death. Cyanide can be inhaled unknowingly. Over a period of time, exposure can cause blood disease, heart disease, vomiting and the break down of vital organs. Other heavy metals present in gold extraction processes can also cause cancer. Eurogold is trying to extend its operational area illegally in Bergama. Villagers went to the local Turkish court in June to fight against the expansion in violation of the high court ruling. The local people are also seeking justice through the European Human Rights Commission.

After the meeting with Howard, Turkey's government tried to argue that the cyanide method could be safe.

More than 90% of Turkey is a very active earthquake zone. An accident as devastating as the cyanide spill in Romania last February at the mine of another Australian goldmining company, Esmeralda, could be repeated in Turkey.

Australian goldmining companies cause environmental destruction in many parts of the world, from Papua New Guinea to the Balkans. As at Bergama, little consideration is given to operating according to environmental standards that are enforced in developed countries. Some of the other major Australian players are Dome Resources in PNG, Esmeralda in Romania, Aurora in Indonesia and Rio Tinto in Brazil.

Eurogold has been given permission by the Turkish government to develop another 560 potential new mines across Turkey.

Many people in the Turkish speaking community in Australia are outraged. A campaign against Eurogold has been launched by Turkish Australians to thwart Eurogold's attempts to expand their mining operations throughout Turkey. It is hoped that an increasing number of Australian will support this campaign as they become more aware of the destructive nature of goldmining operations overseas and in particular the plight of the people of Bergama.

Green Left Weekly readers are urged to circulate a petition against Eurogold's operations in Bergama. For copies of the petition, or for more information, phone (03) 9481 1282 or 9470 4591, or email <sos_pergamon@yahoo.com.au>. Visit <http://www.geocities.com/siyanurlealtin/foreignlinks.html>.

BY EMET DEGIRMENCI

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