CSR

Anglo American accused of "fuelling conflict"

Anglo American has been accused by War on Want, the poverty campaigner, of "profiting from a pattern of global abuse and brutality against poor people". Among the allegations in a report by the charity is that Anglo American is profiting from the murder of opponents who accuse the company's mining operations of threatening their livelihood.

According to the report, Anglo American is profiting at the expense of poor communities in conflict situations in Colombia, the Philippines, and five African countries: Botswana, Ghana, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. War on Want claims Anglo American's presence is fuelling conflict and human rights abuses by state security forces.

For example, according to the report, in the Philippines - where the government is currently fighting left-wing guerrilla forces - critics of mining projects and policies have been killed and targeted for execution. Tribes opposed to the presence of an Anglo American subsidiary, Cordillera Exploration, say they fear the company's presence in the region will lead to the loss of farmland, forests and rivers, and their cultural identity. Leaders of the campaign against Anglo American exploration in the Cordillera region also claim their lives are in danger as a result of opposition to the project.

War on Want is calling for the UK government to pass regulation to prevent companies from fuelling conflict situations and human rights abuses. This would include allowing those harmed by the overseas activity of UK multinationals the right to seek legal redress in the UK.

Louise Richards, War on Want chief executive, said: "Anglo American, one of Britain's biggest companies, is fuelling conflict and causing misery for many people in the developing world. Gordon Brown [has] urged the business community to get involved with efforts to meet the UN anti-poverty goals. If the British prime minister wants to help the poor, he must introduce legislation to protect them from companies like Anglo American".

September 2007