Thousands of Bangladeshi are planning a March 28th protest continuing a decade-long battle to halt a British-owned open-pit coal mine there. Will the Bangladesh government honor a coal ban agreement from 2006 or will it allow the mine to re-open?
And why is the Obama administration covertly pushing for the mine to re-open when it’s been internationally condemned and would displace an 100,000-200,000 villagers, while ravaging desperately needed farm land and water resources?
The short answer, from US Ambassador James Moriarty’s leaked memos: "Asia Energy, the company behind the Phulbari project, has 60% US investment. Asia Energy officials told the Ambassador they were cautiously optimistic that the project would win government approval in the coming months."
Two years ago, an independent review of the coal mine by a British research firm warned:
"Phulbari Coal Project threatens numerous dangers and potential damages, ranging from the degradation of a major agricultural region in Bangladesh to pollution of the world’s largest wetlands. The project’s Summary Environmental Impact Assessment, and its full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment are replete with vague assurances, issuing many promises of future mitigation measures."
Read Jeff Biggers coverage on AlterNet:
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You need to get your facts right before publishing such an article. I did not think you would resort to such uninformed articles on your website.
Facts: This coal ban agreement is not valid as it made by the a leftist organisation and signed off by a government junior minister at the time who did not have the power to enforce the 6 point demand. Fact: The mine will resettle between 40,000 to 50,000 people with full compensation and livelihood package. Not 200,000. Fact: There has never been a Government led independant review of the Phulbari coal project. These are views by self named experts regarding the project but not a Government table review. Fact: Most of the opposition has come from a leftist organisation who are not wanting development for Bangladesh. They would rather people live by candle light. Reality and common sense is needed here. I am sad that these people are stopping us Bangladeshi’s from having our basic needs in life. Your not helping us at all.
According to numerous reports, this article is accurate. On March 6, Cultural Survival reported that 2000 protesters blocked a highway in the Phulbari region, demanding the government honor a six-point agreement, signed on August 31, 2006.
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/bangladesh/bangladesh-campaign-update-massive-protest-against-phulbari-barapukuria-coal-mines. Also see The League of India, which says 100,000-200,000 people will be affected. http://www.leagueofindia.com/article/big-coal-wikileaks-emergency-bangladesh and the International Accountability Project http://accountabilityproject.org/section.php?id=43