01 December 2005
Mining companies in Tibet talk to activists
The Globe & Mail reports that Canadian mining companies are engaged in talks with Tibetan activists about their projects in Tibetan regions. At least three Canadian companies are presently engaged in exploring copper and gold deposits in Tibet. One of the companies, Continental Minerals Corp. of Vancouver, which is exploring a gold and copper property about 240 kilometres southwest of Lhasa, confirmed that the dialogue is happening. Continental’s president Ronald Thiessen said "If we can get it right for the local community, then international organisations like the Canada Tibet Committee will see that we're doing it right, and I believe they'll be on side". Mining activities in Tibet have raised controversies for many years. An Australian company, Sino Gold Ltd, was the target of protests by Tibetan activists in 2003 when it attempted to develop a mine in eastern Tibet. But more recently, the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) has decided to engage a dialogue with mining companies, rather than flatly oppose their activities. CTC hopes that such a dialogue will help providing jobs and other benefits for Tibetans.