Misunderstanding surrounds the Lom-Pangar construction site

The national commission of human rights protests against the access barriers to the site, but EDC calls for dialogue.

Due to the latest news received, the National Commission for the rights of man and freedoms (CNDHL) shall convene Executive Director of Electric Development Corporation (EDC) regarding what it considers as a conduct of voluntary obstruction of the mission that it sent to investigate allegations of violations of human rights on the Lom-Pangar dam project. Such visits were aborted twice.

The first visit was on Tuesday July 15, where the CNDHL delegation was "blocked at the entrance to the security perimeter of the construction site "by security personnel who pleaded to have received " received safety information" precisely about this mission, from its president, Chemuta Divine Banda, in a communication dated 21 July.

And last Thursday, the commission's inspectors were expected at the site. This time, they were more on the premises where the EDC Company, was waiting, in the same way, as their colleagues in the United Nations.

The crux of the conflict lies with the Protocol that must be rested in order to get to the site. On average, explain to official sources at EDC, it takes four days to prepare for a visit.

In this case, the CNDHL notified the company July 7 of its 'decision' to observe and investigate Lom-Pangar between the 14th and the 17th of the same month.

Three days later, the Executive Director EDC proposed to the commission report, from early to mid-August, due to the weather and security.

What the CNDHL did not accept, arguing its calendar and the availability of Auditors. "Immediately informed" of the counterproposal they decided to follow their own program but it went in vain.

Matches shuttle, therefore, floundering on the Act, which authorizes the CNDHL to "expedite" its investigations independently and outside any warning, says Mr. Chemuta.

With this prerogative, EDC opposed a State of affairs which renders the unexpected inspection «impossible» Moreover, defends EDC, the social issues which particularly motivate the CNDHL inspection require the presence of the maximum of workers, largely absent at the time by the Commissioners.