Dalakuru Justice Fund
Donation protected
For generations, the people of the village of Dalakuru in Sierra Leone have mined gold to make a living. For some it is the only industry they know. Their work is hard but stable. Now, nearly overnight, that stability has been ripped out from under them.
On June 23, representatives from the Chinese-owned Cheng Li Mining Company and the Chiefdom authorities held a meeting. These spokespeople told the Dalakuruans that they must soon vacate their mines and mining camps so that Cheng Li could move in and begin their own mining operation. The people were not given opportunity to comment or attempt to compromise. This was a mandate. A deal had been made behind the people’s backs. When Cheng Li representatives arrived on the evening of June 26 and gave miners less than an hour’s notice to leave their mines, the people were shocked and outraged.
The arrival of soldiers in the village who came to enforce the orders heightened these feelings among the villagers. The presence of soldiers, for those who lived through Sierra Leone’s bitter civil war, brought back memories of those atrocities and only served to increase the unrest in Dalakuru. Tensions and confusion rose as the youth of Dalakuru tried to get answers from their leaders. Instead of trying to come to an understanding and an agreement, soldiers began tearing people from their homes, beating and pushing villagers, and burning houses and businesses in the community mining camp. Some people could only grab a few things as their lives went up in smoke, others were still inside their homes when the soldiers set them on fire. On June 30 the youth couldn’t take the abuses any longer. They began to protest against the actions of their government and of these Chinese outsiders. Some of these demonstrators were injured and 25 of them were arrested and jailed for speaking out.
People in the community are now displaced or have had their homes and businesses burned. They have been ignored by their leadership and have been taken advantage of by outside investors. Some carry only the few belongings they could take with them as they fled their camps and they have no assurance that their homes will remain standing when and if they return.
The people of Dalakuru want their lives back. They want the opportunity to meet with the village leaders and the Cheng Li representatives to come to an agreement that allows them to stay on the land they have lived on for generations. But the mining company and Chiefdom authorities have stripped away their bargaining power and have made them desperate and focused solely on their next meal and where they will sleep. A fair deal is impossible when the sides are so uneven.
As the country enters the “Hungry Season,” the time when last year’s food stashes are nearing their end and next year’s harvest is still months away, the displaced Dalakuruans need immediate aid so they can focus on coming to a deal that ensures the long-term success of the village. If they are without their basic needs, they may be forced into an unjust agreement out of sheer desperation. The youth of Dalakuru are demanding justice and demanding a truly fair deal that ensures the prosperity of the people. Their movement needs support so that the unchecked greed of Chinese investors won’t be allowed to define the future of their community.
We are working with Cause Canada (www.cause.ca) to bring awareness and raise funds for the people who have had their homes and their land destroyed and taken from them. We ask that you stand with these protestors by giving to the Dalakuru Justice Fund and by sharing the message demanding justice and a fair deal for the workers of Dalakuru. The Cheng Li mining company and the Chiefdom authorities think nobody is watching, that nobody cares about the fate of Dalakuru. Let them know that you are watching and that they cannot escape the consequences of their actions.
Visit our website for more information
On June 23, representatives from the Chinese-owned Cheng Li Mining Company and the Chiefdom authorities held a meeting. These spokespeople told the Dalakuruans that they must soon vacate their mines and mining camps so that Cheng Li could move in and begin their own mining operation. The people were not given opportunity to comment or attempt to compromise. This was a mandate. A deal had been made behind the people’s backs. When Cheng Li representatives arrived on the evening of June 26 and gave miners less than an hour’s notice to leave their mines, the people were shocked and outraged.
The arrival of soldiers in the village who came to enforce the orders heightened these feelings among the villagers. The presence of soldiers, for those who lived through Sierra Leone’s bitter civil war, brought back memories of those atrocities and only served to increase the unrest in Dalakuru. Tensions and confusion rose as the youth of Dalakuru tried to get answers from their leaders. Instead of trying to come to an understanding and an agreement, soldiers began tearing people from their homes, beating and pushing villagers, and burning houses and businesses in the community mining camp. Some people could only grab a few things as their lives went up in smoke, others were still inside their homes when the soldiers set them on fire. On June 30 the youth couldn’t take the abuses any longer. They began to protest against the actions of their government and of these Chinese outsiders. Some of these demonstrators were injured and 25 of them were arrested and jailed for speaking out.
People in the community are now displaced or have had their homes and businesses burned. They have been ignored by their leadership and have been taken advantage of by outside investors. Some carry only the few belongings they could take with them as they fled their camps and they have no assurance that their homes will remain standing when and if they return.
The people of Dalakuru want their lives back. They want the opportunity to meet with the village leaders and the Cheng Li representatives to come to an agreement that allows them to stay on the land they have lived on for generations. But the mining company and Chiefdom authorities have stripped away their bargaining power and have made them desperate and focused solely on their next meal and where they will sleep. A fair deal is impossible when the sides are so uneven.
As the country enters the “Hungry Season,” the time when last year’s food stashes are nearing their end and next year’s harvest is still months away, the displaced Dalakuruans need immediate aid so they can focus on coming to a deal that ensures the long-term success of the village. If they are without their basic needs, they may be forced into an unjust agreement out of sheer desperation. The youth of Dalakuru are demanding justice and demanding a truly fair deal that ensures the prosperity of the people. Their movement needs support so that the unchecked greed of Chinese investors won’t be allowed to define the future of their community.
We are working with Cause Canada (www.cause.ca) to bring awareness and raise funds for the people who have had their homes and their land destroyed and taken from them. We ask that you stand with these protestors by giving to the Dalakuru Justice Fund and by sharing the message demanding justice and a fair deal for the workers of Dalakuru. The Cheng Li mining company and the Chiefdom authorities think nobody is watching, that nobody cares about the fate of Dalakuru. Let them know that you are watching and that they cannot escape the consequences of their actions.
Visit our website for more information
Organizer
Zachary Adams in partnership with Cause Canada
Organizer
Loveland, CO