British businesses accused of funding Congo war
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By Mike Pflanz 
British businesses were accused on Tuesday of helping to fund the world's deadliest ongoing war by trading in conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
An estimated 5.4 million people have died, mostly of hunger and illness, since Congo's war erupted in 1996.
Two London companies were allegedly among eight international firms which bought minerals from mines controlled by Congo's various armed militia, according to Global Witness.
In a report released on Tuesday, the British pressure group urged the Government and the United Nations to "end the impunity" with which it said protects companies.
Britain is the largest bilateral aid donor to Congo, and its failure to curb trading in war minerals is "allowing one of the main drivers of the conflict to continue unchecked," according to Patrick Alley, director of Global Witness.
"We have asked the government countless times to pay more attention to the role of minerals in fuelling the conflict, and yet it seems that they are more concerned with protecting their companies' economic interests," he said.
Two British companies were named in the 110-page report.
One, AMC plc of Bishopsgate, London, is the majority owner of Thaisarco, the world's fifth-largest tin smelting firm, based in Phuket, Thailand, which has operated in eastern Congo for 18 years.
Global Witness claimed that Thaisarco's main supplier in Congo sells minerals from mines controlled by one of the most notorious rebel groups, the FDLR.
Monique Davico, an AMC spokesman, said: "Thaisarco has historically kept its supply chain under review, including carrying out financial checks and taking up trade references to verify the good standing of new suppliers where practicable..."
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
 

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