Open Appeal to ANZ, Standard Bank and BNP Paribas:
Stay away from the Toka Tindung gold mine on Sulawesi!
We, the undersigned organisations, herewith express our deepest concern about the apparent interest of BNP Paribas, ANZ and Standard Bank to financially support the development of the gold mining operation Toka Tindung on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The mine is owned by subsidiaries of Archipelago Resources; PT Meares Soputan Mining (MSM) and PT Tambang Tondano Nusajaya (TTN). Given the history of this project we are appalled that banks of such international standing seriously consider entering this project.The project is vigorously opposed by the people of North Sulawesi, who feel that their livelihoods and living environment are being threatened by the mine. We call upon BNP Paribas, ANZ and Standard Bank to terminate their due diligence processes, to refuse any financial support either to the project or to the project sponsors, and to withdraw completely from this project.