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LETTER TO THE EXTRACTIVE SECTOR CSR COUNSELLOR ON DENO GOLD MINING IN ARMENIA
Canadian Dundee Precious Metals is the 100% owner of Deno Gold Mining
company operating copper and gold mines in the south of Armenia.
There have been numerous reports in the Armenian media as well as
in private meetings with the workers of the company and residents
of the town of Kapan where Deno Gold Mining operates, on violations
of worker rights and environmental standards by the company. Even
the Armenian Government, who does not duly carry out its functions
of oversight and regulation, has issued orders to the company to
register the unregistered workers and pay them duly in accordance
with the Armenian Labor Code and has several times issued fines for
environmental damage due to ruptures of waste pipes.
Deno Gold Mining does not enjoy a reputation of a socially and
environmentally responsible company in Armenia. The company has also
been reported to have used or to have intended to use inhumane methods
of compelling workers not to miss work at night by using eletroshock.
While this news was later refuted by the company under the
justification that electoshock devices were obtained by the company
for a different reason and no workers have been assaulted by the
company with electoshock, the Armenian society remain distrustful
to Deno Gold Mining. In fact, it was the executive director Robert
Falletta and his wife that were immediately dismissed from work after
these reports were spread in 2011.
The Armenian society, particularly environmental and civic groups
are also frustrated that Deno Gold Mining has issued a suit against
an environmental activist in Armenia who has voiced this information.
Yeghia Nersisian, who speaks for improving the country's heavy
environmental burden left from mining companies, has been sued for
defamation. This is an act of attempting to silence civic groups in
Armenia, who are, in fact, struggling under an authoritarian regime
for their right to free speech and democratic decision-making.
We believe that information that was found in press and in the social
networks as quoted from workers themselves, cannot be used against
an activist who repeats it, even though it was later refuted by
the company.
We would like to bring this issue, as well as the issue of grave
environmental damages often caused by the company, to your attention.
We request you, by using your powers, to convene an investigation on
the operations of Dundee Precious Metals in Armenia.
Save Teghut Civic Initiative
[email protected],
Contact person: Anna Shahnazaryan ([email protected])
Pan-Armenian Environmental Front, civic group
[email protected],
Contact person: Levon Galstyan ([email protected])
Jermuk Development Center, NGO
[email protected]
Contact person: Vazgen Galstyan ([email protected])
11:57 04/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/right/view/29506
From: Baghdasarian
Canadian Dundee Precious Metals is the 100% owner of Deno Gold Mining
company operating copper and gold mines in the south of Armenia.
There have been numerous reports in the Armenian media as well as
in private meetings with the workers of the company and residents
of the town of Kapan where Deno Gold Mining operates, on violations
of worker rights and environmental standards by the company. Even
the Armenian Government, who does not duly carry out its functions
of oversight and regulation, has issued orders to the company to
register the unregistered workers and pay them duly in accordance
with the Armenian Labor Code and has several times issued fines for
environmental damage due to ruptures of waste pipes.
Deno Gold Mining does not enjoy a reputation of a socially and
environmentally responsible company in Armenia. The company has also
been reported to have used or to have intended to use inhumane methods
of compelling workers not to miss work at night by using eletroshock.
While this news was later refuted by the company under the
justification that electoshock devices were obtained by the company
for a different reason and no workers have been assaulted by the
company with electoshock, the Armenian society remain distrustful
to Deno Gold Mining. In fact, it was the executive director Robert
Falletta and his wife that were immediately dismissed from work after
these reports were spread in 2011.
The Armenian society, particularly environmental and civic groups
are also frustrated that Deno Gold Mining has issued a suit against
an environmental activist in Armenia who has voiced this information.
Yeghia Nersisian, who speaks for improving the country's heavy
environmental burden left from mining companies, has been sued for
defamation. This is an act of attempting to silence civic groups in
Armenia, who are, in fact, struggling under an authoritarian regime
for their right to free speech and democratic decision-making.
We believe that information that was found in press and in the social
networks as quoted from workers themselves, cannot be used against
an activist who repeats it, even though it was later refuted by
the company.
We would like to bring this issue, as well as the issue of grave
environmental damages often caused by the company, to your attention.
We request you, by using your powers, to convene an investigation on
the operations of Dundee Precious Metals in Armenia.
Save Teghut Civic Initiative
[email protected],
Contact person: Anna Shahnazaryan ([email protected])
Pan-Armenian Environmental Front, civic group
[email protected],
Contact person: Levon Galstyan ([email protected])
Jermuk Development Center, NGO
[email protected]
Contact person: Vazgen Galstyan ([email protected])
11:57 04/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/right/view/29506
From: Baghdasarian