28. May 2009
Mine standoff said to be resolved
(RFA) Talks may have resolved a standoff over a planned gold mine in Markham (Chin: Mangkang) county, Chamdo (Chin: Qamdo) prefecture, at a site Tibetans consider sacred, a local official has said, but Tibetan residents say tensions over the mine remain high, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). Protests over the proposed mining plans have been under way for three to four months, following local authorities' approval of Chinese mining and lumber firm, Zhongkai Co.'s plans to excavate the area. On 16 May, a contingent of police and security forces arrived, but as many as 500 Tibetans blocked the road leading to the site, where Tibetans have historically worshipped, conducting rituals there in the event of drought. An official at the Markham county business bureau, said the protest had nearly concluded. He said: "We settled the dispute through negotiations to make sure both parties are satisfied with the settlement-that is to say that the mining project should not cause environmental pollution in the future and that the local people will receive a certain amount of compensation".