Freeport Mining
Photo News WEST PAPUA: Benny Wenda's Question to Rio Tinto AGM, London, 17 April 2008
By Free West Papua Campagin U.K
Apr 21, 2008, 12:36

Benny Wenda’s Question to Rio Tinto AGM, London, 17 April 2008

Free West Papua (UK) NOTE: British/Australian mining giant Rio Tinto plc is part owner of the Grasberg copper & gold mine, operated by Freeport McMoRan, in West Papua.

During the Annual General Meeting of Rio Tinto plc in London on Thursday 17 April, Benny Wenda asked this question directly to the board members of Rio Tinto, including to its Chairman, Paul Skinner, and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Albanese.

Mr Skinner replied simply that he disgreed with Benny Wenda's opinion about Rio Tinto's operations in West Papua.

The PHOTOS below show the demonstration outside the Rio Tinto meeting and also Benny Wenda speaking that night at a public meeting organised by the London Mining Network, alongside representatives of communities from South Africa, Colombia, Argentina & the USA who are also suffering human rights and environmental abuse at the hands of British mining multi-nationals.

Richard Samuelson

Free West Papua Campaign, Oxford, UK.

www.freewestpapua.org

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“My name is Benny Wenda.

I am a West Papua Independence Leader and Chair of the Koteka Tribal Assembly.

I am from the area where your Company has its mine.

You just care about your Company and your Business.

You only want our Cooper and our Gold.

You never care about us Papuans as Human Beings just like you.

Rio Tinto and Freeport Mac Moran just bring disaster and death in West Papua.

You destroy our Sacred Mountain. You filled our rivers with rubbish

You give millions of Dollars to the Indonesia Military. These are the people who are killing, raping and torturing us.

You are dealing with Robber - Indonesia - who has stolen our Land.

When will you stop thinking only about money and what you can take for yourself from my Country?

When will you start thinking of us West Papuans as Human Beings?

We are Human Beings just like you!”
















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