EcoLur
On 25 August Gndevaz villagers were like uninvited guests at the public hearings of Amulsar gold mining project held in Gndevaz Community, Vayots Dzor Region.
The public hearings on Amulsar open pit mining and heap leach plant construction were organized in Gndevaz Village, where “Geoteam” CJSC invited the community heads of Saravan, Gorayk and Jermuk, as well as local people employed at their company. They also invited specialists having worked on this project.
Gndevaz villager were angry with the fact though the hearings were held in Gndevaz Village, where the heap leach plant will be constructed, there was no room in the hall for Gndevaz villagers even to stand. They had no opportunity to express their complaint against Amulsar project inside the hall.
When project author Vram Tevosyan started presenting the project, the villagers got angry, “We don’t agree, even 5% Gndevaz villagers are not present in the hall…they held dozens of meeting, which one is attended by Gndevaz villagers…?” Gndevaz villagers left the hall of the public hearings in groups. After them Gndevaz Village Head Harutyun Mkrtchyan together with his supporters left the hall.
Harutyun Mkrtchyan: “You are provoking: everything was planned and arranged. If other villagers spoke at the hearings, we would ask them our questions. Whatever you did is wring, this is connected with four communities.”
A villager, “Harut, is it correct none of Gndevaz villagers to attend it? Don’t even attend the public hearings, stay with us, let them make their decision together with Bazarchay and Saravan villagers.”
Village Head “Wait for the solution to the problem rather than rebel.”
A villager, “They are intoxicating not only Gndevaz, but also whole Vayots Dzor… they are out mass enemies.”
Then the passions get hooter, and after the intervention of Jermuk police, Gndevaz villagers stayed outside, while the village head returned to the hall of hearings. The village head also stated that the company agreed to have a separate meeting with Gndevaz villagers, when the hearings will be finished. Nevertheless, after the hearings when Gndevaz villagers gathered in the hall, the village head said no meeting will be held. Watch more details in the video.
August 26, 2014 at 08:43