"Is Hitcher saying that the illegal mining and associated environmental destruction is a conspiracy orchestrated by Crystallex to help force granting of the final permit?"

He seems to be saying that we encouraged illegal mining to support the SP. Not sure how that's supposed to work.

I guess we can safely assume that this isn't one of the high level officials that has expressed support for our cause.

Too bad he's the guy that has to sign off on the permit.