Kevin:
Here is the full release.Offers a better perspective than one sentance.(only for those too lazy to click on the previous link).
Friday, January 8, 1999
Ashton staff killed by rebels in Angolan
ambush
By LEONIE WOOD in Melbourne
Diamond miner Ashton Mining has found itself in the centre of the escalating
crisis in Angola after four employees at its new $79 million diamond mining
project in the north of the country were ambushed and killed by a small band
who were believed to be UNITA rebels.
The four men included the British civil engineer, Mr Patrick Bergin, who
managed the diamond mine, a Brazilian citizen, Mr Mario Trepechio, and two
Angolan guards who were employed by a security firm at the mine. No
Australians are employed at the mine, although Ashton employs two
Australians in its diamond marketing operations in the Angolan capital of
Luanda.
The attack on Wednesday came less than two weeks after a transport plane
chartered by the United Nations and carrying 14 passengers - including
Melbourne lawyer, Mr Patrick Luckman - was shot down over UNITA-held
territory. A second UN plane with nine passengers on board was shot down
on Saturday.
Reports from Angola say UNITA rebels shifted their offensive to the northern
provinces around the town of Malanje, which is just west of the mine's vast
concession area. Seventeen people in Malanje, 380 kilometres east of Luanda,
died as the town came under artillery fire on Wednesday.
The latest attack has caused Ashton and its partners in the diamond project to
consider pulling out of Angola until the situation stabilises.
In Melbourne, Ashton's chief operating officer, Mr Doug Bailey, said the
partners would conduct a new, extensive security review just two months after
completing a similar review.
Ashton owns one-third of the Sociedade de Desenvolvimento Mineiro de
Angola SARL (SDM) diamond project, and contributed all the capital. Its
partners are a privately owned Brazilian engineering and mine contractor,
Odebrecht, and the Angolan Government. The mine's 200 employees are
guarded by a 500-strong security force.
"We know that the group that caused the trouble is hightailing it to the north of
the country with the army in hot pursuit," Mr Bailey said. "Our security will be
moving out in the morning along the roads to see if they are safe. If the security
in our area deteriorates to the point where we are subject to attacks, then we
will leave."
Mr Bailey said attacks had been on "soft targets". The partners did not believe
the risk warranted shutting down the mine at this stage.
"We've had lots of incidents where we have found mines laid on roads, mines
have gone up under transport vehicles on roads leading to the concession. Last
year we experienced a few incidents which we reported."
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prohibited.
Later:Rick |
