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STOCKHOLM, Feb 10 (Reuters) - United Nations human rights
experts on Thursday urged Sweden not to award a license for an
iron-ore mine in the Gallok region, home of the indigenous Sami
people, saying the open-pit mine would endanger the protected
ecosystem and reindeer migration.
British company Beowulf Mining has sought a license for an
iron-ore mine and the Swedish government will announce its
decision in coming months. The indigenous Sami are opposed the
mine and they have backing from environmental groups and
climate-change activist Greta Thunberg.
José Francisco Cali Tzay and David R. Boyd, special
rapporteurs who form part of the U.N. Human Rights Council's
independent investigative and monitoring mechanisms, said an
open pit mine would generate large amounts of dust containing
heavy metals, and the deposit of toxic waste in ponds would
impact the environment and water sources.
"We are very concerned by the lack of good-faith
consultations and the failure to obtain the free, prior and
informed consent of the Sami, and over the significant and
irreversible risks that the Gallok project poses to Sami lands,
resources, culture and livelihoods," they said in a statement.
An estimated 80,000 Sami live in the northern lands of
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia, where reindeer herding has
been the cornerstone of their culture and livelihood.
Beowulf Chief Executive Kurt Budge said this week that "the
future conditions for mining and reindeer husbandry to coexist
at Kallak (Gallok) are possible," adding lessons could be
learned from local Sami and the many examples across Sweden
where coexistence is a reality.
"The company is committed to doing all it can to achieve
this, through preventative and precautionary action and
compensation deemed necessary."
The Swedish government could not immediately be reached for
comment.
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander
Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
