West Perth-based Anvil Mining Ltd has been cleared by a military court of any involvement in the violation of human rights during the suppression of a rebel insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo town of Kilwa by the nation's army in 2004.
West Perth-based Anvil Mining Ltd has been cleared by a military court of any involvement in the violation of human rights during the suppression of a rebel insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo town of Kilwa by the nation's army in 2004.
West Perth-based Anvil Mining Ltd has been cleared by a military court of any involvement in the violation of human rights during the suppression of a rebel insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo town of Kilwa by the nation's army in 2004.
Anvil has operated a copper-silver mine at Dikulushi, 50 kilometres from Kilwa and about 400km from provincial capital Lubumbashi, since October 2002.
It had been alleged that Anvil employees voluntarily omitted to request the Army return vehicles it had requisitioned, to be used in fighting with the rebel group.
Anvil and its Employees Acquitted in Kilwa Incident
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC"): Anvil Mining Limited (TSX, ASX: AVM), ("Anvil" or "the Company") welcomes the decision of the military court clearing Anvil and its employees of any involvement in a military action by the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo ("FARDC") at Kilwa in the Katanga province in October, 2004.
"We are pleased that the court rendered a decision that supported Anvil's consistent position that the Company and its employees acted in an appropriate manner at the time," said Bill Turner, President and CEO of Anvil.
"Throughout the trial, our priority has always been to support a fair and transparent process based on factual evidence."
The military trial, which started in December 2006, focused partially on the actions of Anvil employees at the time, who under force of law complied with the FARDC's requisition of Company vehicles for the FARDC's use in fighting with a rebel group in the community of Kilwa. It had been alleged that Anvil's employees aided and abetted the military by 'voluntarily omitting to request the return of the vehicles.'
The trial also examined the actions of the FARDC troops in the incident, in which an undetermined number of people were killed.
Lee Nehring, Anvil's Vice President Social Development, said "While the decision supports the actions of the Company and its employees, Anvil recognizes how tragic this incident continues to be for the community of Kilwa."