NSW: Police charge 19 people after mine protest

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2007
NSW: Police charge 19 people after mine protest

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - Police have charged 19 people following a protest at a central-western
NSW mining site, including a man who attempted to disrupt the activists' campsite.

Eighteen people entered the Barrick Gold site at Lake Cowal at about 1.30pm (AEST)
yesterday, invading the site office and chaining themselves to machinery.

Protesters say the company is stripping the area of precious water supplies and destroying
the land of the traditional owners, the Wiradjuri people.

Police said the 18 were arrested and charged with entering enclosed lands.

They have been granted conditional bail and will appear in West Wyalong Local Court on April 26.

In a separate incident, a 32-year-old man from Western Australia allegedly drove into
the protesters' campsite and damaged their cars and tents.

He was arrested and charged with malicious damage, failing to undergo a breath analysis,
stalking/intimidation, carrying a knife in a public place and driving offences.

The man was refused bail and will appear in Griffith Local Court today.

AAP nr/ao

KEYWORD: COWAL DAYLEAD

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