Union of Greenlander Ruby Miners Reject Colonial Governments Mining Proposal
Nuuk, Greenland, February 6, 2009:
The 16th August Union, a coalition formed to protect the small scale mining rights of Native Greenlanders has forcefully rejected their colonial government proposal to change existing laws.
The Union has issued a formal response to the Greenland’s Bureau of Mining and Petroleum (BMP): “In essence, the actions toward Greenlanders rights to mine ruby, in collusion with large scale mining interests, embody ethnic humiliation,” said Niels Madsen, founder and spokesperson for the Union.
The Union deputes the government’s claim that large-scale mining, funded by publicly traded companies, provides significant benefit to Greenlanders. “Locally funded small scale mining efforts will benefit the society far more than the multinationals who are only here to exploit our resources. The real economic benefit will come once we sell polished rubies directly to those in the jewelry sector interested in ethical sourcing,” explained Madsen. “Instead of exporting wealth to shareholders who are only concerned about their bottom line, the money will stay in Greenland where it can truly benefit our local economy.”
According to Madsen, the older law has functioned adequately for generations, guaranteeing native Greenlanders their traditional rights to prospect the land and to benefit from their labors. New proposed regulations, introduced once valuable ruby deposits were discovered, would make small scale mining expensive and burdensome, if not impossible.
The formal letter documents multiple cases of the Greenland’s Bureau of Mining and Petroleum (BMP) current actions effectively criminalize what, for generations, has been a legal economic activity. The letter also provides examples of how the BMP have applying laws arbitrarily without due process or means of appeal.
“We will no longer tolerate policies that are based on cultural stereotyping,” said Madsen. “They think we are stupid and powerless, but we are not.”
The Union has strong support among the local Greenlandic population. Over the past month, over 3000 Greenlanders, representing 4.56% of Greenland, have signed the petition to keep their traditional rights to mine and sell rubies. The document was presented to John Telling in November 2008
The Union is seeking a solution that will allow both small scale and large scale mining to take place simultaneously. “We will continue our movement,” said Madsen, “until the government begins once again to represent the will of the people.”
Greenland is due to have home rule on June 29th, 2009
