The Chief-Executive-Officer (CEO) Jean-Sebastien Jacques of the world’s first mining company has resigned-September 11, 2020-under the global outcry caused by the destruction of two ancient sacred Aboriginal caves (Jukan Gorge rock shelters) in the Jukan ravine in Pilbara, Western Australia, and despite persistent objections from members of the Indigenous Australian community.
by T.C.
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Together with the CEO, the head of mining and the director of corporate partnerships left their posts.
Jucan’s caves are considered one of the most important archaeological finds in Australia, as traces of human life and activity 46,000 years old have been identified.
Photo by the website www.sbs.com.au
The archaeological findings are several and important among them a tool from an animal bone aged 28000 years and a knitted belt of human hairs 4000 years old. DNA testing of the knitted belt of human hairs has shown that its creator has a direct affinity (genetically) with the members of the Aboriginal Community of Putu Kudi Kurama, who are the current owners of the area.
These Aboriginal sacred sites they are on top of the quality of the iron ore deposits, which cost about $100m.
Although Rio Tinto had secured permission for the mining operations, critics of the case say the company’s executives deliberately concealed the archaeological value of the site from both the local and federal government, respectively.
This fact demonstrates the powerful influence that mining companies have on local and federal government agencies in Australia. The Canberra Parliament House is investigating the destruction of the unique site, and reports suggest that if the catastrophe are proven to be on purpose, the fines that will be imposed will be of gigantic amount.
