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The British-Australian group Rio Tinto has blown up a cemetery in Australia. The indignation is great; the company responds by resigning the CEO and cutting bonuses for managers.
Protest against the destruction of thousands of years of history: the Rio Tinto mining company destroyed two holy sites in the state of Western Australia in May.
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The head of the Rio Tinto mining company and two other senior managers resign after harsh criticism of the demolition of two sacred sites by Australian Aborigines. As the Australian-British company announced on Friday, CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques will leave his post in March 2021 at the latest, if a successor is not found beforehand. The decision was made by mutual agreement. The other two executives would leave at the end of the year, he said.
With the decision, the group is reacting to the demolition of two important indigenous sites in the Juukan gorge for the extraction of iron ore in May this year. “What happened in Juukan was wrong,” the company admitted. The group will ensure that the destruction of a cultural heritage of such extraordinary archaeological and cultural significance by the company never happens again.
With the decision, the group is reacting to the demolition of two important indigenous sites for the extraction of iron ore.
Photo: Melanie Burton (Reuters)
The age of the two sites in the Northwest Pilbara region was estimated to be 46,000 years. Its destruction sparked violent protests and led to a parliamentary investigation.
The group has also cut the bonus for managers. According to the company, the CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques has to give up about three million euros, the head of the iron ore department, Chris Salisbury, about 670,000 euros and the head of communications Simone Nien about 580,000 euros.
