Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Locals pressured to leave Oz Minerals mine site

via Khmer NZ News Media

Wednesday June 30, 2010
Cambodia's government has suspended plans to demolish the homes of people living around a proposed Australian mine site.

Local government had been threatening to burn or demolish the homes of people living around the Oz Minerals exploration site in Mondulkiri province to make way for a potential mine.

Melbourne-based Oz Minerals has announced the discovery of a substantial gold deposit in the area and is doing further exploration to see if it is viable.

The government wants residents and small-scale local miners who have moved into the area to move out.

While there is no new deadline for them to do so, the government is now restricting their access to mining chemicals to prevent them from working.

Road blocks and spot checks have been set up by police.