FED: Catholic council against Jabiluka uranium mine

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-1998
FED: Catholic council against Jabiluka uranium mine

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - The controversial Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory must
be stopped or it will undermine the process of reconciliation, an official body of the
Catholic Church warned today.

A World Heritage Committee meeting in Japan last week recommended construction at the mine
cease until Australias assessment on the mines threat to Kakadu National Park was considered
by UN body UNESCO in April.

But Environment Minister Robert Hill said the federal government would be taking no action
to stop work at Jabiluka, while the mines developers Energy Resources Australia (ERA) vowed
to carry on with the project.

The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, which is the human rights agency of the
Australian Catholic Bishops, today released a statement expressing support for the traditional
Mirrar peoples opposition to the mine.

Council chief executive officer Sandie Cornish said the statement was based on respect for
the Mirrar people and their consistent stance against uranium mining on their land for nearly
20 years.

"The council felt strongly that proceeding with Jabiluka would undermine the process of
reconciliation, which is widely supported around Australia," Ms Cornish said .

"Environmental considerations were a secondary but important factor in the councils
considerations."

The council believed it was morally unacceptable for the mine to proceed and welcomed the
call for a six-month halt on work at the site, she said.

The development of the mine appeared to place economic values ahead of human and cultural
ones, the council said.

"Environmental matters today are regarded by the Church as being matters of moral concern
and we regard proceeding with the mine at Jabiluka as being morally unacceptable," Ms Cornish
said.

The councils statement coincides with a series of anti-Jabiluka rallies planned for
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane today by environment group Friends of the Earth.

Up to 400 protesters had gathered in Sydneys Hyde Park for todays rally, organiser Jesse
Wynhausen said.

"I think with the world heritage finding, that the mine should be stopped for at least six
months for further inquiries," Mr Wynhausen said.

"We just want to show support for that finding and show the federal government is not
representing the people on this issue."

AAP sb/bjm

KEYWORD: JABILUKA (CARRIED EARLIER)

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