ch 2 - four corners...on right now, page-2

Just viewed the report....I guess it's a salutory lesson from a number of perspectives from all stakeholders involved.

There is clearly a deeply embedded culture of violence and reprisal in the country, and an Australian mining company cannot be held resposnible the cultural mindset that allows a military to run rampant. However can a case be made that Anvil contributed indireclty to the massacre by allowing the military to be flown in on Anvil contracted planes and then use Anvil vehicles?

Hindisight it 20-20 of course, and Anvil would argue it was clearly not its intention to be an indirect party to the massacres, nor was it reasonably forseeable that it would happen. Had Anvil had known of the likely consequence of the military's action, they surely would have objected to the use of their vehicles. In future then if such an outbreak occurs again, any mining company placed in a similar situation should place restrictions on the proposed type of action its vehicles and other resources are used for and make it public ASAP.

Four Corners was trying hard to stitch up Anvil and Bill Turner. From a PR perspective it has to be said that Bill looked a bit like Pontius Pilate wanting to wash his hands of the whole deal. Bill was cleary stressed and was made to look uncaring, (no doubt with the slective editing by the ABC being used to assist). This was probably unfair and biased journalism. Anvil's presence has brought numerous benefits to the locals.

Sometimes events in the Third world country can take on a macarbe life of there own. Companies who operate in such countries can get into a real bind however. Often their very presence can be used a reason for generating discontent. There needs to be real care taken in being in backing an established government against insurgents. Clearly the military had an overreaction in this case. However what if the situation was turned, and an insurgency starts slaughtering hundreds of locals? What if Anvil had refused a military request to use their vehicles. You can bet that the Four Corners program would have been blasting Anvil for not assisting.

Lesson? Make sure you pick the side that comes out smelling the best - this is hard bit when everyone is a bit on the nose...