Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment and Kodao productions are pleased to announced that the short version of the video of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) can now be viewed. Just click on – http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IIReTNVOSKs

Also attached is an article on the ISM.

Thank you again to those who participated and we are looking forward to further collaboration in our struggle for the environment and the people.

Anti large-scale mining battle of Nueva Vizcaya gets strong support

International and national and delegates from church, health, youth, peasant, scientists, indigenous peoples (IP) and environmental groups showed support to the anti-large-scale mining campaign of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya through a three-day International Solidarity Mission (ISM). The delegates of the ISM avow to gather strong support from other sectors and organizations, both here and abroad.

On December 7-8, 2008, the ISM team visited the targeted expansion areas of Didipio gold-copper mining project of Australian-owned OceanaGold, which are Barangay Alimit and Malabing, of the Municipality of Kasibu. The ISM focused on documenting and validating the economic, social and cultural violations of the mining company and the environmental and mining-related issues in the target communities. At the same time, the ISM aimed to provide concrete support to the local struggle of the communities.

The 19,363-hectares Didipio gold-copper project is the first of the two approved Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) since the Mining Act of 1995 was passed. It is located in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya and Cabarroguis, Quirino. The project that was applied for by Climax-Arimco then transferred to OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OCG) is one of the priority projects of the Arroyo regime.

The team found out that the destruction of major agricultural and forestlands through the mine expansion would have grave economic and environmental consequences, not only to the said communities but to the whole province as well.

Environmental destruction

The mining project site is located within a watershed area. Hundreds of hectares of forestlands have been cleared and denuded and fertile agricultural lands have been converted into mining areas, causing massive environmental damage in nearby communities. Mining operations have contributed to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and watershed degradation in this context.

Water bodies particularly the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines, will be more contaminated with heavy metals once the commercial mining operations start and reach their full capacity.

“We were surprised at the solid campaign of the people to defend their lands and rights by opposing large-scale mining in their communities. Then again, the people of Nueva Vizcaya have much to lose, given their rich natural resources and long-established cultural community, if large-scale mining operations continue in their area,” observed one of the international delegates, Edith Raseil of United Church of Christ, USA.

Displacement of Indigenous Peoples’ communities

Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from the indigenous peoples in the directly impacted communities was not obtained. OGC assert that they have no responsibility to get FPIC from the IP communities as the Philippine law does not require them get FPIC for their mining project because it was approved before the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (Republic Act 8371) was passed.

“The IP communities in Brgy. Alimit and Malabing are at risk of experiencing the same fate as those communities where multi-national mining corporations were allowed to enter. They are in danger of losing the resources most precious to us IPs, which is our land and right to self- determination,” said Himpad Mangumalas, leader of national IP organization, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamayan sa Pilipinas.

Himpad added that, “It is very disheartening to find how the resources and the very rights we have been fighting for since time immemorial are easily given to foreign companies. One instance is how OceanaGold was permitted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cut 17,000 trees and to destroy critical watershed areas. IPs, on the other hand, are deprived of our claim to the land and resources that have so long been with us.”

Support from neighboring towns

Local participants who shared their own struggle in their own communities, particularly those who have experienced mining firsthand in neighboring towns Didipio and Runruno, and adjacent province of Apayao, also joined the ISM.

“We do not want the people of Alimit and Malabing Valley to experience the human rights violations and environmental destruction we have suffered under OceanaGold. We are working towards stronger and more solid collaboration with these areas so we will be able to defeat our common enemies, the large-scale mining corporations and the national government who fervently favors their self-interests over ours,” expressed Peter Duyapat of Didipio Earth Saver’s Movement Association (DESAMA).

Since December 2007, ancestral and agricultural lands have been cleared and residential properties located within the company’s proposed 425-hectare primary mining impact area have been demolished. To date, OGC has demolished a total of 200 houses in the area, belonging to the resident IPs. This destruction of their homes was done without the consent of some homeowners, who refused the money offered by OGC as compensation.

Call for further support

On the third day of the ISM, the delegates conducted a dialogue with local leaders of other church groups, people’s organizations and tribes to urge them to intensify their campaign and establish a unified position against large-scale mining in the province.

“We are calling for the church, local government leaders, organizations, at the local and national levels, to join us in our struggle for our patrimony and to commit to more concrete means of support to our plight,” appealed Pastor Joseph Agpaoa, member of region-wide alliance opposing plunder of natural resource, Save the Valley, Serve the People: Nueva Vizcaya.

The litany of grievances and valid issues raised against OGC have already been brought to the attention of more sectors within Philippine society, including government agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; major religious formations such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; and policy-makers such as individual solons from the House of Representatives discovered that human rights violations and offenses by the mining company did take place. However, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the present administration of Sec. Lito Atienza has continued to turn a blind eye from the overwhelming clamor for the stoppage of the Didipio Gold-Copper mining project.

“Even though the local communities are opposed to mining and have exhausted means to stop the mining in the area, Arroyo with her agencies still push for the liberalization of mining in the country,” said Clemente Bautista Jr., national coordinator of progressive environmental groups Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.

Recommendations

The ISM team arrived at specific recommendations on how to step up the campaign against large-scale mining in the Kasibu, based on the data they have collated and the local situation presented by the mining-affected communities.

First, with the recent declaration of OceanaGold of its care and maintenance stage, there is a need to systematically assess the damage the mining activities have incurred to the communities and to the local environment. This would serve as the basis for eventual rehabilitation of the area and compensation to the affected communities where OceanaGold is accountable.

Second, the provincial government is urged to take a stronger stance and pass a resolution declaring a moratorium on large-scale mining, as it was already proven that this does not bring economic benefits to the community and instead brings hardships and disunity among the tribes.

Third, the communities should develop a more concrete plan to adopt a policy geared towards genuine development through a strong sustainable agricultural base.

Ultimately, there should be a change in policy of the national government with the scrapping of Mining Act of 1995 and its mining revitalization program that would include complete stoppage of Didipio Gold-copper mining project of OceanaGold in Nueva Vizcaya.

Unfazed by new threat from foreign funders

Before the ISM set out, OceanaGold announced that they would be entering a care and maintenance stage last December 3, 2008 due to some financial difficulties attributed to the current global financial crisis. As with other small and junior mining companies, OGC is scrounging for much needed capital to survive and continue their mining project.

Recently, OGC is negotiating with South Korea’s Hyundai Group to help fund the $320 million mining project. A remaining $200 million is needed to continue the project and to add to the initial $120 million that has already been expended by OGC.

“The DENR, OGC and other agencies are undaunted by the dissent of the people whose force determined the closure of OGC in the first place. This obstinacy of our national agencies is proof that they’re unconcerned of the stance of the people and are only for the sell out of our natural resources,” stated Bautista.

Despite these new developments, the ISM participants and the local communities are standing their ground. According to their statement, “The local communities, with their supporters, will show mining TNCs and the Arroyo administration that there is no place for foreign large-scale mining in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. The assertion of the rights to utilize the national patrimony, for the genuine development of the majority of the Filipino people, will not stop until this has been achieved.”

The ISM was organized by Defend Patrimony! alliance, Kalikasan-PNE, Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines and Peace for Life, with local regional alliance Save the Valley, Serve the People Nueva Vizcaya Chapter. It was participated by 29 representatives from local and international organizations, Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), KODAO Productions, Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamayan ng Pilipinas, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Save the Valley Serve the People, Didipio Earthsavers Movement Association (DESAMA), Save Apayao People’s Organizations (SAPO), Advocates for Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) and AGHAM Youth, Ecumenical Mission for Peace and Development and international delegates from United Church of Christ USA, United Church of Canada and KAIROS Canada.

CLEMENTE BAUTISTA
National Coordinator
Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE)
No.26 Matulungin St. Bgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1100
Tel. No. +63-2-9248756 Fax No. +63-2-9209099
Email: kalikasan.pne [at] gmail [dot] com
Website: www.kalikasan.org