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Australia. Rio Tinto apologizes for blowing up the Aboriginal cave

Due to the destruction by the British-Australian mining company Rio Tinto of a cave inhabited by Aborigines more than 46,000 years ago, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques will leave his position, the company announced on Friday in a press release.

The Juukan Gorge cave in northwest Australia was blown up on May 24 this year to mine high-quality iron deposits worth $ 135 million, the agencies said.

The place was inhabited by Aborigines more than 46,000 years ago, and during the post-approval archaeological research, Australia’s oldest bone tools made 28,000 years ago from kangaroo bones were discovered. DNA analyzes have shown a link between the former inhabitants of the area and the Aborigines still living in the area.

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The mining company apologizes for blowing up the Aboriginal caveReuters

“What happened in Juukana was a mistake and we strongly assure you that the destruction of heritage sites of such unique archaeological and cultural significance will never happen again during Rio Tinto operations,” the company said in a statement. It added that the company wants to regain the trust of the Australian indigenous community and its shareholders, which would not be possible without specifying individual responsibility for this event.

The CEO will leave his position

By mutual agreement, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques will remain in office until a successor is appointed or until 31 March 2021. He will leave with two board members overseeing iron mining, communications and sustainable development. They had to give up this year’s bonuses earlier.

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The cave in Juukan Gorge in northwest Australia was blown up on May 24, 2020Reuters

Rio Tinto’s internal investigation found that while the company obtained formal approval to destroy the cave, the company’s internal standards were not followed in making the decision.

These resignations are by far the best known examples of the growing power of shareholders forcing companies to account for actions that fail to meet the requirements of human rights and local community responsibility, commented the Reuters agency.

photo-source">Main photo source: Reuters

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