Bernie Monk, father of Michael Monk who was one of the 29 men killed in the Pike River Mine explosion, has accused the government and police of wanting the seal up the mine to prevent access to evidence
Today’s NZ Herald said
The father of a miner who died at Pike River has accused police and the Government of withholding information that shows bodies may be recovered intact from the explosion-hit coal mine.
According to the Herald Mr Monk is appealing for anyone who may have evidence that a recovery may be possible to come forward.
Bernie Monk, father of lost miner Michael Monk, says a source in the recovery team has told families the explosions that hit the mine in November may not have been as big as first thought.
He claims authorities decided not to permanently seal the mine after finding out families had a source stationed there.
“I think the police and the Government changed their minds after finding out we know what’s happening at the mine.
“I don’t think anyone’s been honest with us up till now. Liaison between police and families on the official side of it has been nil.”
If the explosions which hit the mine were not as big as first thought, bodies could still be recovered despite a coal fire that burned through December, Mr Monk says. Read the full report here
He went on to tell the Herald that he was prepared to go into the mine himself to recover the bodies. He said that the mine was in a stable condition and that it was safe to go in.
Before the decision to seal the mine is made families and the public (via the media) should be allowed unrestricted access to people working in the recovery operation, if for no other reason than for the families to satisfy themselves that there isn’t a cover up underway.
Bear in mind though that many of the people working on the recovery probably haven’t been paid for their services yet. They may be reluctant to speak out for fear that it could seriously harm their chances of being recompensed.
The big question is – If there’s nothing to hide why all the secrecy? and its not just us saying there should be more transparency.
Phil Goff, leader of the Labour Party, issued a press release a few days ago saying
“If the mine is to be sealed because of safety reasons, then the Government should present the families with the evidence to justify it. If it’s really about the cost, then John Key should come clean and tell the families face-to-face.
“All the information should be made available to the families, including the opinion of the Mine Rescue Team. The team should not be prevented from expressing its view openly.”
E2NZ.org 
http://www.facebook.com/InvestigatePikeRiverMineDisaster?sk=wall&filter=2
Have you read Murder at Pike River Mine by Dr Jacob Cohen?
With reference to the sole vent, we suspect that this may have been because of restrictions DOC placed on above ground infrastructure: Can’t have surgical mining with lots of machinery scattered around the landscape.
Yes, there were reports about an electrician entering the mine. The electrical system had broken down prior to the first explosion, which meant that the main ventilation system had stopped working. Gas must have built up very rapidly after that.
Former employee Brent Forrester said that
Andrew Watson, of the UK’s Mines Rescue Safety Training Service, suggested that either the warning system at the mine was inadequate or it wasn’t being properly monitored.
It is thought that above ground personnel first learned of the explosion two hours after it had occurred, when two survivors Daniel Rockhouse and Russell Smith walked out and raised the alarm.
I suspect that the suggested “cover up” goes a lot deeper than with holding information from the affected families and the possibility of recovery of their loved ones.
Questions that I have not been able to find an answer for…
Why was there apparently only one extraction vent for circulation fresh air through the mine complex?
Early news reports suggested an electrician had entered the mine shortly before the first explosion… What was his intent?
What warning alarms were monitored in the time leading up to the first explosion?
What communications, if any, between the workers and the office/control point st the minr entrance?
I am sure that satisfactory answers to these questions, and a number of others, would go a long way to suppress growing concerns of an overall cover up and attempts to prevent any evidence being recovered from the site of the tragedy.