Reply #20: Federal inquiry eyeing Echo Bay

[seemslikeadream]

Former worker says mining firm helped fund terror groups

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News
April 16, 2004

Federal officials are investigating a Littleton man's claims that a now-defunct mining company based in Denver illegally aided terrorist groups in the Philippines by giving them an estimated $1.7 million in protection payments under the guise of "security."

Allan Laird, 62, a former project manager for Echo Bay Mines Limited, has spent the past year trying to persuade the Department of Homeland Security to investigate former company officials for what he says amounted to illegal funding of terrorism.



A former executive with the company, which was absorbed by a merger in 2003, categorically denied Laird's allegations Thursday and questioned why Laird didn't go public with them until after he had been laid off.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a reporter's inquiries.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Colorado declined to comment on Laird's allegations but said the matter "remains under investigation."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_2...

Article Published: Friday, April 16, 2004
Firm accused of terrorist aid
Former Denver company: No record of pay for mine security


In the Sierra article, Laird said he issued repeated warnings to Echo Bay executives about what he viewed as a dangerous situation. Laird said one of his supervisors, John Anthony, responded with this e-mail: "You need to be more discreet in some of your observations ... and (in) the distribution of such a report which could be incriminating under certain scenarios."

Laird said he was aghast that Echo Bay executives viewed the terrorist payments as a routine cost of doing business.

"What disturbs me the most is there was a situation where a company was providing aid to terrorist groups," Laird said. "We should not be supporting terrorism under the guise of corporate security."

Laird was project manager of the Kingking mine for 14 months in 1996 and 1997, until shortly before Echo Bay abandoned the property and recorded a $50 million loss. He estimates that during Echo Bay's involvement in the mine from 1995 through 1997, terrorist groups were paid at least $1.8 million. The Sierra article estimates the payments "in excess of $1.7 million."

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2086949,00.html