Indigenous groups call for justice as mining giant BHP in court over dam tragedy

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mining giant BHP has been accused of putting “profit over people’s lives” as indigenous protesters have called for justice over a dam collapse that caused a historic environmental and humanitarian disaster in Brazil. They carried signs which read: “BHP/Vale = Climate criminals” and “Justice for BHP Billiton and Vale’s crime in the Doce River”. “We came here to ask for justice because we trust the justice system here.” Tom Goodhead, global managing partner of Pogust Goodhead, representing the claimants, accused BHP of putting “profit over people’s lives time and time again”. He said: “This is yet another desperate attempt by BHP to delay facing the consequences of the pain and devastation they have caused.” “The victims of Brazil’s worst ever environmental disaster will be horrified to see the world’s two biggest mining companies fighting each other in court instead of providing full and fair redress.” “Alongside their total failure to provide full and fair compensation to the victims, BHP have also exposed their investors to extraordinary levels of risk in relation to the unprecedented compensation bill they now face.” Felipe Hotta, a partner at Pogust Goodhead working on the case, said very little compensation has been granted to victims in Brazil.