Kyrgyz Authorities Suspend Chinese Mining Company’s Licence

Excerpt from report by state-owned Kyrgyz Television 1 on 4 June

[Presenter] People living in Naryn Region are raising the alarm about the fact that animals and rare plants put in the Red Book are now in danger in a reserve. Because of man’s activities there is a danger of their extinction. Prospecting companies have ruined picturesque places. [Our correspondent] Dzhyldyz Dzhumabekova has her report on the terms and way of issuing prospecting licences.

[Correspondent] There is no end to local people’s anger. They are puzzled that the government can quietly look at what is happening here. In 2004, a Chinese company, Tenlin, obtained a licence for prospecting the Dzhetim Too mine in Naryn District. Since then, one of the best pastures in the region has turned into a desert. In search of minerals, the neighbours have ploughed the picturesque place across its length and breadth.

[Dzhsynbek Mambetov, a villager] Last year, wheat did not grow because they blocked water. There was no feed for cattle.

[Correspondent] The pastures fed local people’s cattle. A river that ran here watered their land. However, the normal pace of life has now been upset.

[Passage omitted: the report says that the area is part of a state-owned reserve]

[Erlan Saparbayev, a deputy governor of Naryn Region] The geology agency issues licences to everyone. There is no control over operating companies. The company Tenlin has violated the Kyrgyz environmental laws on more than one occasion. Today they have stopped their activities and begun paying out compensation. They promised to restore the pastures.

[Correspondent] However, the geology agency says that the Dzhetim Too mine is not part of the reserve. It also said that the Chinese company’s licence had been revoked because it failed to observe contract terms.

[Passage omitted: the report says that law-enforcement bodies supervise the geology agency's operations]

[Correspondent] The mine Dzhetim Too is rich in iron ore, the agency stressed. And the Chinese company has prospected for this mineral. However, the regional administration and residents of Naryn Region are confident that gold was mined from there.

[Passage omitted: local residents talk about their assumptions that gold was mined]

Originally published by Kyrgyz Television 1, Bishkek, in Russian 1400 4 Jun 08.

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