London, June 24th '09– Whilst thousands of people today around the world are expressing their concerns about Continental Minerals' mining operations at Shethongmon [Ch: Xietongmen] in central Tibet, Students For a Free Tibet UK in the narrow streets of Dowgate Hill made a similar stand outside the Standard Bank Plc. Tibet is on the front line of climate change. A unique environment that was protected and treasured for thousands of years by the Tibetan people is now under threat by the Chinese regime that illegally and brutally occupy Tibet, and by the involvement and investment of international corporations. Tibet’s mineral wealth is being exploited, for the profit of the Chinese authorities and at the expense of Tibetans who are given no say over what happens to their land, and who are crushed with military force when they attempt to protest.
Standard Bank Plc is one of the major shareholders of Continental Minerals. Along with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Standard Bank Plc, invested in Continental Minerals Shethongmon [Ch: Xietongmen] Copper-Gold mining project in central Tibet on 25th August, 2008.
“Today when Continental Minerals is having their AGM Meeting with its shareholders, we call upon Standard Bank to withdraw its investment in Continental Minerals Corp” said Tenzin Jigdal, spokesperson for Students for a Free Tibet UK, “It is unconscionable that Continental Minerals continue to operate in Tibet at a time when the Chinese government is violently suppressing the Tibetan people's desire for human rights and freedom. As a signatory to the “Equator Principles” which ensures socially responsible and sound environmental management practices in any projects undertaken, Standard Bank must withdraw its investment from Continental Minerals.”
However not long before the final distribution of the flyers and open letters, disproportionate numbers of police arrived only to interrogate the three Tibetans distributing the flyers. But eventually it all turned out amicable and friendly. Moreover, Jenny Knott, one of the board members, was kind enough to meet the Tibetans to hear their concerns and accept the letter of concern to the Standard Bank Chief executive Officer Mr. Rob Leith.
Last year in March, Tibetans across Tibet rose up in a popular uprising against Chinese rule with more than 130 protests recorded. Chinese authorities responded by flooding Tibet with troops and used extreme violence to quell the unrest. More than 220 people were killed, thousands were detained, and more than 1,000 Tibetans remain missing. Despite the crackdown, protests continue today in Tibet and the situation on the ground remains incredibly tense and unstable. Further unrest and bloodshed is likely.
Mining in Tibet – like in any conflict zone – threatens the reputation of investors. The Dalai Lama recently described Tibet under Chinese rule as a “hell on earth.” Tibetans are in no position to exercise their free, prior, and informed consent for the exploitation of their natural resources. Minerals obtained from mining in Tibet are shipped to the east coast of China to feed the growing Chinese economy, offering few, if any, financial benefits to local Tibetans. Virtually all jobs in Tibetan mines go to Chinese migrants, even unskilled manual labour positions, excluding the high number of unemployed local Tibetans. China Labour Bulletin, Human Rights Watch and various other NGOs have repeatedly highlighted the use of forced-labour prisoners as miners.
There are serious concerns about the environmental impacts of mining in Tibet, such as the contamination of soil and water by arsenic or cyanide, which could seriously affect local farmers and communities further down stream in Asia. Tibet is the source of all of Asia’s major rivers. Under the Chinese occupation, Tibetans are denied the right to decide how their resources are used and may be forcibly removed from their land, without compensation, to make way for mines.
STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET UK ARE
ASKING STANDARD BANK TO ACT.
Photos by: Luke Ward
