NEWS

Islanders Sue London-Based Mine Co.

September 8, 2000 12:00am
Source: The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - The Associated Press via NewsEdge Corporation : Using a federal law allowing foreign nationals to bring lawsuits in the United States, Papua New Guinea islanders sued a London-based mining concern Wednesday citing environmental degradation and human rights violations.

The lawsuit names Rio Tinto PLC, one of the world's largest mining companies. Because of the time zone difference, mining officials in London could not be reached for comment. 

The lawsuit alleges that residents of Papua New Guinea's Bougainville Island, northeast of Australia, were and continue to be exposed to toxins from Rio Tinto's copper mine. The mining company destroyed villages as well as razed rain forests and polluted rivers, causing health problems for islanders, the lawsuit alleges. 

The residents claim the mining company financially influenced the Papua New Guinea government, which the lawsuit accuses of killing 15,000 islanders opposed to the mine through air bombings, village burnings and other acts of wanton destruction over the last decade.

``We intend to prove that Rio Tinto treated Bougainvilleans with no respect and thought of them as inferior in every way: socially, economically, racially and politically,'' said the islanders' attorney, Steve Berman of Seattle. 

Under the Alien Tort Claims Act, foreign nationals can bring suit in the United States against companies accused of violating international law.

The plaintiffs seek class-action status for their case and ask for unspecified restitution. A hearing has not been set to determine whether to allow the suit to proceed.