Barrick Gold en: Argentina - Australia - Chile - Kirguistán - Perú

Fuente: www.ippmedia.com 08/08/06

LEAT wants all mining contracts suspended

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By Ludger Kasumuni


The Lawyers Environmental Action Team (LEAT) has written to President Jakaya Kikwete requesting the government to suspend all mining contracts so as to pave way for a national dialogue on new mining concessions and contracts.

In a copy of the letter which was availed to The Guardian yesterday, LEAT says all mining contracts, including new ones had needed review, because the economic interests of local residents were excluded.

The letter, signed by LEAT’s Acting Executive Director, Tundu Lisu, says that they have received many complaints on land alienation in many areas affectd by investors in Geita, Tarime, Mererani, Buhemba and Bulyanhulu.

’’We need the national dialogue for discussing the fate of the mineral resources and mining contracts. The national dialogue should be carried out in a transparent manner,’’ says part of the letter.

The letter further says that there was no basic ground for denying Tanzanians to know the mining contracts entered between the government and investors.

According to LEAT most of the mining contracts had loopholes for smuggling of minerals by giant companies that had been exchanging licences among themselves.

The report cites the recent sale of shares of East African Gold Mines of Australia to Placer Dome in Mara at the cost of USD 252 million, while the government was left without any remittances.

’’Ultimately the Placer Dome has bought off the Barrick Gold Ltd to become the biggest mining investor in the world but the government has been left empty handed,’’ says part of the 14-page letter.

The letter also says that tax exemption to mining investors had been legalised through some amendments on various laws in 1997, including the Income Tax Act, according LEAT.

Under the amendments investors have been exempted from paying 30 per cent income tax, says the letter.

The government has also been losing taxes through transfer pricing by the mining investors who had been colluding with the international mining monopolies by overpricing and over invoicing of mining equipment, the letter further claims.
  • SOURCE: Guardian