Col release

Friends of the Earth
Australia
Box 222 Fitzroy, Australia 3065;   Ph: 61 3 9419 8700   Fax: 61 3 9416 2081    
Email: foe@foe.org.au    web: foe.org.au    ABN No. 18110769501
BHP called to account in Colombia
Duban Velez is hoping for a safe return to his home in Colombia after he attended the
BHP annual Shareholders meeting today. Duban Velez from the Colombian Trade Union
Confederation in Antioquia today question BHP Billiton over the treatment of workers at
the Cerrejon Coal mine and over the forced relocation of Indigenous communities.
\x1cWe call upon the Shareholders here to acknowledge the reality of what goes on in
Colombia, hoping that steps will be taken to change the policies of misery generated in the
communities. Beside the social problems we have big risks to our environment. At
Cerrejon, BHP want to re-route a river 17km to bring it closer to the mine so that water
can be used.\x1d Said Duban Velez at today\x19s BHP Billiton annual general meeting.
\x1c We expect a safe return to Colombia and that the Government will respect the human
rights of Duban\x1d said Luis Riquelme of the Latin American Solidarity Network.