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Article

26 Jun 2017

Author:
Andrew Topf, Mining.com

Tanzania: 66 arrested after invading Acacia's North Mara mine to steal ore & demand compensation for land & alleged pollution

"Villagers invade Acacia's North Mara mine in Tanzania"

Hundreds of villagers near the North Mara gold mine in Tanzania invaded the mine for several days last week in an attempt to steal gold ore. The armed confrontation between police and villagers is the latest development in an ongoing dispute between the mine owner, Acacia Mining  and the Tanzanian government.

Security forces arrested at least 66 people, 34 of whom were women used as human shields by groups of armed men who invaded the mine..."This week different groups of over 500 people armed with traditional weapons such as machetes and spears invaded the premises of the Acacia mine… they even went to the gold processing plant," police chief Morris Okinda told reporters. Several police were also injured. The villagers were reportedly demanding compensation for their land and for alleged pollution caused by the mine.The villagers were reportedly demanding compensation for their land and for alleged pollution caused by the mine.

The government of Tanzania accuses Acacia of under-declaring revenues and evading taxes worth tens of billion of dollars...Acacia has repeatedly rejected all allegations of wrongdoing and called for an independent inquiry into the government’s accusations.