Is the ABC the political arm of Woodlouse & Gordon?Certainly...

Is the ABC the political arm of Woodlouse & Gordon?
Certainly looks like it.
Who is up who?

AVM ann says there is no police investigation, which is why the lawyers are trying to stir it up.


"Last Update: Friday, August 19, 2005. 9:38am (AEST)
AFP kicks off Anvil Mining investigation. (ABC TV)
AFP investigates Aust mining company in Congo
By Daniel Hoare for AM

The Australian Federal Police is investigating the actions of Australia's Anvil Mining company over allegations it helped government troops quell an uprising in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The company has been accused of providing vehicles and other assistance to troops to put down an uprising in the village of Kilwa, 50 kilometres from one of Anvil's mines.

Melbourne law firm Slater and Gordon is representing several human rights organisations who have accused Anvil Mining of breaching international human rights laws.

Slater and Gordon yesterday received a letter from the Australian Federal Police informing them of the investigation.

It was October last year when a group of rebels began an uprising in the village of Kilwa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to witnesses, a small band of rebels took over the local police station before turning their sights to the Anvil mine.

A United Nations investigation estimates that more than 100 villagers were massacred by soldiers representing the Government of Joseph Kabila.

The UN report noted that the soldiers launched their attack with vehicles owned by Anvil Mining, prompting several rights groups to approach Slater and Gordon to see if Anvil had a case to answer.

The lawyer looking after their case is Richard Meeran.

"We think [Australian Federal Police involvement] is important because it is a very serious issue if an Australian company has been involved in aiding and abetting these types of offences then it's a matter for which they need to be held to account," Mr Meeran said.

"[At] this stage we simply don't know whether or not any offence has actually been committed.

"That would depend on the outcome of the investigation and in particular here the circumstances under which vehicles owned by this company came to be used by the Congolese military in the commission of these human rights atrocities in the Congo.

"Those circumstances need to be looked into."

A spokeswoman for Anvil Mining says the company does not want to comment because it has not been notified of an investigation by the federal police.

But in a previous statement, Anvil described the allegations as "deplorable and without foundation".

Anvil says the vehicles used in the massacre were commandeered at gunpoint by the military.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Federal Police would not reveal to AM whether the investigation would involve travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo"