Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Tue, 22 Dec 1998 13:32:00 -0800 (PST)
CCSI has recently received a resolution on the threat to the Sami on the
Kola peninsula posed by a proposed mining operation. The resolution was
passed at the Second Indigenous Circumpolar Youth Conference. We have
included excerpts of the resolution below. For more information
contact:
Claus Oreskov
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
Fiolstraede 10
DK- 1171
Copenhagen K
Denmark
E-mail: [email protected]
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12-12-98
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find. A resolution on the Lovozero district from the Second
Indigenous Circumpolar Youth Conference. The resolution is about the
S�mi on the Kola peninsula whose livelihood, culture and whole
existence is threatened by a tender for mining in the middle of their
reindeer herding area. We all know that the social crisis in Russia is very
hard and those who are the most exposed are the indigenous peoples of
Russia. The S�mi at the Kola peninsula has under the communist era
suffered from gross discrimination and exploitation. The fall of
communism gave them a hope for the future that the new plans for
mining has crushed. I hereby urge you to protest to the government
of the Murmansk region and the government of Russia. I also urge
you to bring the matter up in all relevant international forums such
as ILO & the UN.
Sincerely yours
Claus Oreskov
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
Resolution on Lovozero district.
November 4, 1998
We, the participants of The Second Indigenous Circumpolar Youth
Conference (2ICYC), representing Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden,
Greenland, Canada, Denmark and The United States of America, appeal to
the authorities of...
On July 17, 1998 the indigenous Saami population of the Lovozero
district, in the Murmansk region of Russia, learned from the press about
the outcome of the open tender. This tender, concerning the right to
conduct geological prospecting in the Northwestern portion of the
Kolmozero-Voroninskaya formation with the intent of excavating gold,
copper and molybdenum. The tender commission met on June 28, 1998. In
the meeting, the local government of the Murmansk region, the Natural
Resources Committee of the Murmansk region announced the Open Joint
Stock Company Voronye-Minerals as the winner of the tender. The land
plot in question is 420 sq. km. and 500 m. deep from the surface. The
license is valid until June 30, 2023.
By adopting these decisions and signing the relevant documents, the
local government of the Murmansk region has completely ignored the
opinion of the indigenous people and the public of Lovozero district.
After the announcement of the tender in March 1998, the Lujavri local
organization of Kola Peninsula Saami Association, the Association of
Komi-Izhemtz Iz�vatos, Council of War and Labour Veterans, and local
population began an active campaign against mining and prospecting in
the North-western portion of the Kolmozero-Voroninskaya formation. The
land in question is a permanent pasture of three main reindeer herds.
Appeals and protests have been sent to local and regional authorities,
however, these appeals and protests have not been answered.
The Voronye- Minerals Company intends to conduct prospecting and
mining for 25 years. These activities will result in the disappearance
of reindeer herding. Reindeer herding is the traditional economic
activity of the Saami people. Reindeer herding has also been the
traditional lifestyle for the Saami people for hundreds of years; it is
the basic layer of their everyday life and culture. According to the
latest count today, there are only 1,730 ethnic Saamis in all of
Russia. The disappearance of reindeer herding will result in extinction
of the Saami nation.
Many changes have taken place in Russia during the last century. By the
end of 1980s, because of state political influence, language and
traditions of the Saami people have become nearly extinct. The
preservation of Reindeer herding and fisheries are of vital importance
for the survival of the Saami peoples.
We, the participants of the 2ICYC support the Kola Peninsula Saami
people and consider their struggle for vital rights as lawful.
We see direct violations of both Russian and international legislative
and regulative documents, such as: ...
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