anvil responds, page-2

Extracts of the Petition of Kilwa Traditional Leaders –

June 2005 Extract from an English translation of a Petition of the Traditional Chiefs of Kilwa and its surroundings, Messrs Michel Kabundi the Head of Groupement Entity Kilomba Grouping; Ndoba Mambwa, Head of Kyaka Grouping; Kabwende Ngoy, Head of Katenge village; Sepwe Kibambo, Head of Kinsale village; Kabengele Kalaba, Head of Ktuti village; Ngoyi Mangazini, co-ordinator of AC Team and Roger and Shula Mwelwa Kamakombwe, Head of the Land, dated June 27, 2005, and sent to:
• His Excellency the Governor of Katanga Province in Lubumbashi,
• Consul General of Belgium in Lubumbashi,
• Consul General of South Africa in Lubumbashi,
• MONUC/Katanga in Lubumbashi,
• General Manager of Anvil Mining Company at Dikulushi, • Commissioner of Upper Katanga District AT Pweto,
• Chief of Moero Sector at Kilwa and
• Chef de Poste d'Encardrement Administratif at Kilwa.

"We the Traditional Chiefs of Moero Sector at a meeting in Kilwa, the Capital City of Moero Sector, take this opportunity to issue a firm denial of the involvement of Anvil Mining Congo in the massacre perpetrated on the Kilwa population during the sad events that happened in Kilwa.”

"We take this opportunity to issue the firm denial of any implication of this Company in the massacre because we think that those who are behind this accusation only want to destabilize the population of the area, which is pleased with Anvil's presence.

For the local population, the company is a ray of hope. Anvil Mining Congo is among the few who take the risk to come and invest in our country during a very troubling period.”

"In the Congo, our country like many others in Africa, the Traditional Chiefs are the guarantors of the people in the villages. Therefore, we are not to be ignored because we are well placed to be aware of anything that happens in our villages. We are aware and informed of everything about our people. Given this, we are wondering why those investigators from Australia did not bother to get in touch with us if really they wanted reliable information.”

"It is true that Anvil Mining, at the request of Congolese government, gave some of its vehicles to be used by the Congolese Army Forces (FARDC) for transport. The Company had no choice because the instruction was in accordance with the Congolese Law No. 112/FP et No. 170/AIMO of May 15, 1942. This sort of activity is not new in our Country and this type of thing happens all over the world during force majeure or times of war.”

"Anvil Mining Congo is the only Company operating in this area that we consider our duty to protect because of the good it has been doing in the area and for the risk it runs in investing in this high risk region.”

"We invite the international community to send to Kilwa its commissions of inquiry to collect reliable information and to find out what actually happened. We cannot allow any one to destroy Anvil Mining. The company's presence has lent an air of respectability to our area and is contributing to its social development." ends