From: "Vikki John" <VIKKI-AT-lexsun.law.uts.edu.au>
Date:          Fri, 3 Apr 1998 16:36:01 GMT-1000
Subject: M-NEWS: (Fwd) BOUGAINVILLE SOLIDARITY MESSAGE - ABORIGINAL RIGHTS NOT 



Subject:       BOUGAINVILLE SOLIDARITY MESSAGE
                   ABORIGINAL RIGHTS NOT URANIUM
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                               SOLIDARITY MESSAGE

SAVE KAKADU - STOP JABILUKA MINE

Dear Friends,

We wish to express our solidarity with you in your fight against the mining of 
Jabiluka.

The people of Bougainville have suffered terribly because they dared to say "no" 
to CRA/RTZ (now known as Rio Tinto Mining Company).

The Rio Tinto Mining company forced the people of Central Bougainville, over 
their strongest objection, off their land in order to dig out the copper and gold at 
Panguna.

The mine not only destroyed their land, Rio Tinto also simply threw the 
poisonous tailings into their river systems, polluting the entire Jaba Valley all the 
way to the sea.  After the local people protested in vain against the destruction 
of their environment and the ruthless exploitation, the people of Bougainville 
finally lost patience and shut down the mine in 1988/89.

The governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea brought in riot police and 
then the Papua New Guinea Army who were supplied with Australian Iroquois 
helicopters, patrol boats, ammunition and guns etc.  For the past nine (9) years 
a total blockade of the island was imposed against the people of Bougainville.

Although there has been little news about the war on Bougainville in the 
mainstream media here, approximately 20,000 people are now dead.  Our taxes 
from Australia have been used to kill the people of Bougainville, all in an attempt 
to get the highly profitable mine back for Rio Tinto Mining Company.

So you can see that we feel great empathy, and support you in your fight against 
the mining of Jabiluka.

With very best wishes,
BOUGAINVILLE FREEDOM MOVEMENT, AUSTRALIA.
PO Box 134,
Erskineville.  NSW.  2043 
Tel: (02) 9558.2730                                April 1998
=====================================SAVE KAKADU
STOP JABILUKA MINE
ABORIGINAL RIGHTS NOT URANIUM.
Rally - Sunday 5 April at 12.30 Hyde Park Fountain
Festival - 1.30pm onwards First Fleet Park., Sydney.
======================================