Anvil Mining: Canadian company accused of supporting military responsible for Congo massacre

This report is part of our former “Harmful Cases” documentation, where we continuously and concisely recorded human rights violations, violations of international law or environmental destruction caused by companies.

Human Rights Violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Anvil Mining provided logistical assistance to Congolese troops who violently suppressed an uprising in the mining town of Kilwa, killing more than 70 persons.

According to the Canadian Association Against Impunity (CAAI), Anvil Mining provided vehicles and planes in 2004 to the Congolese military to support it oppressing an attempt by rebels to take over Kilwa, a Congolese town where Anvil Mining is operating. The civilian population suffered from serious human rights violations by the military. Furthermore, CAAI claims that civilians were transported with Anvil Mining’s vehicles and taken outside town where they were executed.

The Superior Court judge Honorable Benoît Emery determined that sufficient links to Quebec existed for applying Quebec’s jurisdiction and, therefore, allowing the case to be heard in court. On 25 January 2012, however, the Quebec Court of Appeal reversed the decision of the Superior Court. The Court of Appeal found that the requirements of the Quebec Civil Code had not been met with respect to jurisdiction.

In March 2012, the CAAI filed an application with the Supreme Court of Canada. The plaintiffs were seeking leave to appeal the Quebec Court of Appeal’s decision to dismiss a human rights case against the Canadian corporation Anvil Mining Limited.

Anvil Mining is a copper producer operating in the DRC since 2002, with headquarters in Montreal, Canada and Perth, Australia.

More information:

macleans.ca

cbc.ca