Large-scale Mining:
Why local level resistance and International Solidarity is needed
By Nicole Oliver
It was a cool and misty morning the day I set out with Innabuyog-Gabriela for Mankayan. As our van wound its way through Benguet Province, oddly I felt at home amid the familiar landscapes of jagged rock faces and majestic towering pines. The scenic route barring a welcoming resemblance to areas that I have explored in my home nation of Canada along with the four hour drive gave me space to reflect upon the differences and similarities that both Canada and the Philippines are facing regarding large-scale mining.
On the weekend of September 22, 2012 Innabuyog-GABRIELA along with an international intern from Spain and I camped out at the barricade site constructed by local indigenous peoples against the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company’s drilling expansion project in Barangay Tabeo in the Municipality of Mankayan of Benguet Province. In February of 2012, the community of Barangay Tabeo sets a barricade to block access to the newly inserted and heavily contested diamond-tip drilling site of Lepanto. The site is set to advance the ever expanding Lepanto exploration and extraction of gold and other precious metals in the area. For nearly nine months, the community has sustained the Save Mankayan Movement (SMM) engaging in many protests actions, lobby,dialogues, petitions, pickets, and has held their deposits are found primarily under Alberta’s Boreal dialogues, petitions, pickets, and has held their deposits are found primarily under Alberta’s Boreal ground at the erected barricade site. They have received much support and messages of solidarity from other indigenous groups in the Cordillera region and people’s organizations in the Philippines.
On the flip side, the persons involved in this prolonged campaign have experienced harassment from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippines National Police (PNP), Barangay officials, Lepanto workers, and private security personnel hired by Lepanto that act mercenaries.
At this time, there have been three-failed dispersal attempts made at the barricade site in Tabeo. The local residents of Mankayan, who for multiple generations have relied on farming for subsistence and livelihood erected the barricade in February of 2012. The protesting community members claim that the site was given the green light for exploration without undergoing the necessary Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process as stipulated in the Republic Act No. 8371, which states that no ancestral land shall be opened for mining operations without undergoing the said process and gaining the consent of the indigenous cultural community concerned.
Tar Sand mining Canada
Meanwhile back in my home nation of Canada, the debate is raging regarding the Federal Government’s tar sands expansion project and the West-to-East oil pipeline. The Canadian tar sands forest and wetlands covering an area about the size of Florida. In order to extract synthetic crude oil from the tar sands, millions of acres of pristine forests and wildlife habitat have been clear cut, strip-mined, and drilled. To produce what is often referred to as “dirty oil”, tremendous amount of water is needed for the refining process.
Additionally, the complex extraction and refining process of tar sand crude oil requires extraordinary amounts of energy in comparison to the production of conventional crude oil. It is estimated that tar sand oil production releases at least three times the greenhouse gas emissions per barrel to that of the conventional stuff.
18.1.13
27.10.12
Creating a Climate for Change: Human Rights in the Philippines: with Congressman Neri Colmenares
Dear friends,
The
Centre for Philippine Concerns/Centre d’appui aux Philippines invites you to
attend a forum entitled “Creating a Climate for
Change: Human Rights in the Philippines - get informed, get involved, make a
difference!” The discussion will revolve around the issue of Canadian
mining operations and human rights in the Philippines.
The
speakers include Philippine Congressman Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna partylist,
who is now attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Quebec City,
as well as Prof. Irwin Cotler who is the MP for Mont Royal.
The
forum will be held on October 28, 2012 (Sunday) at the Mont Royal United Church,
1800 Graham Boulevard, Town of Mont Royal (TMR), H3R1G9 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
If
you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Joyce
Valbuena (joycevalbuena(at)yahoo.com) or Tess Tesalona (tess_iwc(at)yahoo.ca).
We
look forward to seeing you at the forum.
+++++
Chers amis, chères amies,
Le Centre d’appui aux Philippines vous invite à un forum intitulé « Création d'un climat propice au changement: les droits de l'homme aux Philippines - Renseignez-vous, impliquez-vous, faites la différence! ». On y parlera des opérations minières canadiennes et les droits humains aux Philippines.
Le forum aura lieu le 28 octobre
2012 (dimanche) à l'Église Unie Mont-Royal, située au 1800 boulevard Graham, à
Ville Mont-Royal, H3R 1G9, de 14:00 à 16:00.
Si vous avez des questions ou voulez
plus d'informations, veuillez me contacter, Joyce Valbuena
(joycevalbuena(at)yahoo.com) ou Tess Tesalona (tess_iwc(at)yahoo.ca).
Au plaisir de vous voir,
Solidairement,
Joyce Valbuena
Coordonnatrice, Centre d'appui aux Philippines/Centre for Philippine Concerns
20.9.12
NDFP mourns the passing away of Atty. Romeo T. Capulong, its chief legal counsel and champion of the exploited and oppressed
National Council
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
17 September 2012
The entire National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) deeply mourns the passing away of Atty. Romeo T. Capulong, its Chief Legal Counsel and champion of the exploited and oppressed. The leadership of the NDFP, all its allied organizations, and the NDFP Negotiating Panel, its consultants and staff, express our deepest gratitude for the invaluable service he rendered through so many years, in the peace negotiations and other fields of people's struggles.
We express our sincerest condolences to his wife, Pia, his children, Alex, Eduardo and Roma Pia, and to other members of his family, his many friends and colleagues in the Philippines and abroad..
Romy, as he was called by his friends and colleagues, was the NDFP Chief Legal Counsel par excellence. In the peace negotiations, he played a key role in the formulation and negotiation of The Hague Joint Declaration, The Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and other bilateral agreements. He made full use of his legal expertise and persuasive powers to bring about consensus even on the most difficult points. Every document in the GRP/GPH-NDFP peace negotiations was checked and reviewed by him.
He was already a legal counsel to the NDFP peace negotiators in 1986-1987. In 1989, he accompanied several peace advocates to the Netherlands. In 1990, he came with Congressman Jose V. Yap for extensive discussions on peace negotiations.
From 1992 until 2008, despite his heavy schedule of defending political prisoners, peasants, workers and others subjected to political repression, he came to assist in peace negotiations. All 12 bilateral agreements from 1992 to 2004 were forged with the invaluable help of his legal expertise and firm stand for the revolutionary movement.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
17 September 2012
The entire National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) deeply mourns the passing away of Atty. Romeo T. Capulong, its Chief Legal Counsel and champion of the exploited and oppressed. The leadership of the NDFP, all its allied organizations, and the NDFP Negotiating Panel, its consultants and staff, express our deepest gratitude for the invaluable service he rendered through so many years, in the peace negotiations and other fields of people's struggles.
We express our sincerest condolences to his wife, Pia, his children, Alex, Eduardo and Roma Pia, and to other members of his family, his many friends and colleagues in the Philippines and abroad..
He was already a legal counsel to the NDFP peace negotiators in 1986-1987. In 1989, he accompanied several peace advocates to the Netherlands. In 1990, he came with Congressman Jose V. Yap for extensive discussions on peace negotiations.
From 1992 until 2008, despite his heavy schedule of defending political prisoners, peasants, workers and others subjected to political repression, he came to assist in peace negotiations. All 12 bilateral agreements from 1992 to 2004 were forged with the invaluable help of his legal expertise and firm stand for the revolutionary movement.
1.8.12
“Look Them Straight in the Eye” -- Open Letter to Philippine President Benigno Aquino
 | |
| Family in happier days before tragic attack took life of Alice Claver. (far right) |
Your much-acclaimed State of the Nation Address, “Report Kay Boss,” last July 23 was a big disappointment. On your third SONA, you never even mentioned the white elephant in the room – the human rights situation in the Philippines.
Human rights violation data (Karapatan) show that during the Arroyo administration, there were 1,205 extra-judicial killings and 206 enforced disappearances. The data also show that in the two years of your administration, there were an additional documented 99 extra-judicial killings and 11 enforced disappearances. These cases do not include the countless number of victims of threats, political vilification, evacuations, torture, rape, and illegal detention. International human rights bodies have similarly documented these violations.
And there was not a word of mention in that address. What does this mean, Mr. President?
Does this mean that the concerns of the families of these victims of human rights violations are
not important enough to merit attention? Does this not fit your scenario of “where a citizen is
oppressed, he will find (you) an ally”? From your speech, I am guessing that it does not.
Does this mean that you are now tacitly in agreement with these military terror tactics? After two
years of inaction on your part, the families of the victims of the killings and disappearances are
now drawing that conclusion. In her 2006 SONA, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
declared this sentiment when she publicly praised General Jovito Palparan, a notorious human
rights violator. Right after your last SONA, you did a similar thing – you designated the Morong
43 torturer Col. Aurelio Balabad to a division command post. I am guessing that you are indeed
encouraging these terror tactics.
Or does this also mean that you are so afraid of the military that you dare not mention their dark
deeds? You talked tough against corrupt police officials coddled by illegal loggers, but you were
meek as a mouse about the bloody acts arising from the military’s Oplans Bantay Laya and
Bayanihan. I am guessing that you do not truly believe that the people are your “bosses” because,
as I see it, you have higher bosses.
As one of the families of the victims of extra-judicial killings, and on the anniversary of the
killing of my wife, I challenge you to “look (us) in the eye” and tell us that my guesses are
wrong.
(Sgd) Chandu Claver
Husband of Alice Claver
Extra-judicial Killing Victim (July 31, 2006)
Human rights violation data (Karapatan) show that during the Arroyo administration, there were 1,205 extra-judicial killings and 206 enforced disappearances. The data also show that in the two years of your administration, there were an additional documented 99 extra-judicial killings and 11 enforced disappearances. These cases do not include the countless number of victims of threats, political vilification, evacuations, torture, rape, and illegal detention. International human rights bodies have similarly documented these violations.
And there was not a word of mention in that address. What does this mean, Mr. President?
Does this mean that the concerns of the families of these victims of human rights violations are
not important enough to merit attention? Does this not fit your scenario of “where a citizen is
oppressed, he will find (you) an ally”? From your speech, I am guessing that it does not.
Does this mean that you are now tacitly in agreement with these military terror tactics? After two
years of inaction on your part, the families of the victims of the killings and disappearances are
now drawing that conclusion. In her 2006 SONA, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
declared this sentiment when she publicly praised General Jovito Palparan, a notorious human
rights violator. Right after your last SONA, you did a similar thing – you designated the Morong
43 torturer Col. Aurelio Balabad to a division command post. I am guessing that you are indeed
encouraging these terror tactics.
Or does this also mean that you are so afraid of the military that you dare not mention their dark
deeds? You talked tough against corrupt police officials coddled by illegal loggers, but you were
meek as a mouse about the bloody acts arising from the military’s Oplans Bantay Laya and
Bayanihan. I am guessing that you do not truly believe that the people are your “bosses” because,
as I see it, you have higher bosses.
As one of the families of the victims of extra-judicial killings, and on the anniversary of the
killing of my wife, I challenge you to “look (us) in the eye” and tell us that my guesses are
wrong.
(Sgd) Chandu Claver
Husband of Alice Claver
Extra-judicial Killing Victim (July 31, 2006)
30.4.12
Strengthening Partnerships and Studying the Impact of Canadian Mining Interests in the Philippines
The following report from the "Beaconsfield Initiative" that toured Cordillera region of the Philippines in early 2012 to look at the impact of Canadian mining is submitted to the CAP-CPC for sharing with our members by our good friend, Reverend Shaun Fryday. CAP-CPC spokesperson Tess Tesalona also participated in the exposure tour.
_____
River running in you and me,
Spirit of life, deep mystery.
Dancing down to the holy seas,
river run deep, river run free. *
From Province to Province: The Beaconsfield INITIATIVE January 1-12, 2012;
Strengthening Partnerships and Studying the Impact of Canadian Mining Interests in the Philippines
Connecting with the Local Filipino people
While in the Philippines for 13 days on the Beaconsfield Initiative Exposure tour, we visited many rural communities under threat from mining applications or who are directly impacted by mining activities, resulting in environmental degradation, human rights violations, militarization and other social and economic impacts in the communities.
To that end, in terms of our information gathering, we met with municipal mayors and councilors, provincial government representatives, 2 provincial governors, representatives from women’s organizations, and clergy organizations, political prisoners, the Canadian ambassador and his staff, the Attorney General of the Philippines, Bishops and other church leaders, women and children, Elders, and representatives from people`s organizations, including, CHESTCOR, CHRA, CPA, UCCP, NCCP, RECCORD, ETS and their student body, family members of the disappeared, family members of victims of extrajudicial killings and protestors of mining activity. As Christians engaged in justice, we have a responsibility to know what is happening in these areas of injustice in the Philippines today.
Our focus became clear when we divided our group into two teams in Salapaddan and Tubo, where we lived for several days. It became clear, through our first conversations with people in all communities, that the river is the source of life. It is sacred, holy, embodied with the life of the people, a place of creation and goodness, where the children play, the people wash and bathe, the fish swim, a place of celebration and delight in the abundance of the earth. It is a place of life!
The river is also a place of death! An individual who had spoken out against mining companies in the community of Tubo was decapitated, his body was desecrated, divided and thrown into the river. With the explosion of mining activities in the nearby centres, the Abra River has been impacted, with the mine tailings which contain deadly cyanide, mercury and a host of other chemicals being deposited into the once healthy and vibrant Abra river.
We followed the course of the Abra River from its headwaters where it continues to be polluted from the Lepanto mine. It winds its way through several provinces, many communities and opens, eventually, into the sea. Fish that once swam abundantly now float to the surface, destroyed. Skin diseases plague the Filipino people and their animals. The water buffalo, the most valuable domestic animal, and other domestic animals help the people preserve their way of life in subsistence farming and municipal or small-scale fishing. The Abra river is now an ambiguous place, a place where the balance of life needs to be restored and whose very flow of life is in peril with the development of mining practices.
As we heard the first hand stories of people who were directly impacted, individually and communally, we were awakened to the realities of gross injustice, realities we had heard about only in theory.
_____
River running in you and me,
Spirit of life, deep mystery.
Dancing down to the holy seas,
river run deep, river run free. *
From Province to Province: The Beaconsfield INITIATIVE January 1-12, 2012;
Strengthening Partnerships and Studying the Impact of Canadian Mining Interests in the Philippines
Connecting with the Local Filipino people
While in the Philippines for 13 days on the Beaconsfield Initiative Exposure tour, we visited many rural communities under threat from mining applications or who are directly impacted by mining activities, resulting in environmental degradation, human rights violations, militarization and other social and economic impacts in the communities.
To that end, in terms of our information gathering, we met with municipal mayors and councilors, provincial government representatives, 2 provincial governors, representatives from women’s organizations, and clergy organizations, political prisoners, the Canadian ambassador and his staff, the Attorney General of the Philippines, Bishops and other church leaders, women and children, Elders, and representatives from people`s organizations, including, CHESTCOR, CHRA, CPA, UCCP, NCCP, RECCORD, ETS and their student body, family members of the disappeared, family members of victims of extrajudicial killings and protestors of mining activity. As Christians engaged in justice, we have a responsibility to know what is happening in these areas of injustice in the Philippines today.
Our focus became clear when we divided our group into two teams in Salapaddan and Tubo, where we lived for several days. It became clear, through our first conversations with people in all communities, that the river is the source of life. It is sacred, holy, embodied with the life of the people, a place of creation and goodness, where the children play, the people wash and bathe, the fish swim, a place of celebration and delight in the abundance of the earth. It is a place of life!
The river is also a place of death! An individual who had spoken out against mining companies in the community of Tubo was decapitated, his body was desecrated, divided and thrown into the river. With the explosion of mining activities in the nearby centres, the Abra River has been impacted, with the mine tailings which contain deadly cyanide, mercury and a host of other chemicals being deposited into the once healthy and vibrant Abra river.
We followed the course of the Abra River from its headwaters where it continues to be polluted from the Lepanto mine. It winds its way through several provinces, many communities and opens, eventually, into the sea. Fish that once swam abundantly now float to the surface, destroyed. Skin diseases plague the Filipino people and their animals. The water buffalo, the most valuable domestic animal, and other domestic animals help the people preserve their way of life in subsistence farming and municipal or small-scale fishing. The Abra river is now an ambiguous place, a place where the balance of life needs to be restored and whose very flow of life is in peril with the development of mining practices.
As we heard the first hand stories of people who were directly impacted, individually and communally, we were awakened to the realities of gross injustice, realities we had heard about only in theory.
18.4.12
CAP-CPC meeting samedi 21 avril: special guest from Philippines!
(English follows, pls note location)
Chers membres et ami-e-s du Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Montréal (CAP-CPC),
CAP-CPC aura sa prochaine réunion mensuelle le samedi 21 avril 2012 chez Tess Tesalona, 653 Allion (Central), Lasalle, H8P 1K6 (Métro Jolicoeur, autobus 112) de 10h à 12h midi. Nous discuterons entre autres de la suite de la tournée des defenseurs des droits humains.
Après la réunion de la CAP-CPC nous allons déjeuner chez Tess T avec un invité très spécial en provenance des Philippines: Francisca "France" Castro, National Secretary of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Écrire à Tess Tesalona (tess_iwc@yahoo.ca) pour d'autres suggestions pour l'ordre du jour de la réunion et pour signifier votre présence. RSVP. Rendez-vous tous! :-)
DERNIER MINUTE! "Cordillera Day", un événement annuel qui honore les populations autochtones de la région de la Cordillère des Philippines, sera célébrée dimanche prochain, le 22 avril 2012 de 15h à 17:30h à 6767 Côte des neiges (métro Côte des neiges). Nous soutenons l'évenement organisée par l'Association philippine Cordillère de Montréal. Dr. Chandu Claver de Bayan le Canada sera le conférencier d'honneur, et les six tribus de la région de la Cordillère sera représenté dans les performances de l'après-midi. Le groupe culturelle de PINAY sera également présent et un membre de l'Initiative de Beaconsfield exposera l'impact des compagnies minières canadiennes dans cette région riche en ressources. Tous sont les bienvenus, de la nourriture disponible, événement gratuit.
+++++
Dear members and friends of the Centre for Philippine Concerns - Montreal (CAP-CPC),
CAP-CPC will have the next regular monthly meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2012 @ Tess's Tesalona's house, 653 Allion (Central), Lasalle, H8P 1K6 (Métro Jolicoeur, autobus 112), from 10:00 am to 12noon. We will discuss follow up to the Human rights tour, and other upcoming events (see Last Minute news below)
After the CAP-CPC meeting we will lunch and share at Tess's place with a very special guest from the Philippines: Francisca "France" Castro, National Secretary of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Please email Tess Tesalona (tess_iwc@yahoo.ca) with points to include on the agenda and to confirm your attendance. RSVP. See you all there! :-)
LAST MINUTE NEWS! Cordillera Day, an annual event honouring the indigenous people of the Cordillera region of the Philippines, will be celebrated this coming Sunday, April 22, 2012 from 3pm-5:30pm at 6767 Côte des neiges (Metro Côte des neiges). We are supporting the event organized by the Philippine Cordillera Association of Montreal. Dr. Chandu Claver of Bayan Canada will be the keynote speaker, and the six tribes of the Cordillera region will be represented in the afternoon's performances. The PINAY cultural group will also perform and a member of the Beaconsfield Initiative will expose the impact of Canadian mining companies on this resource rich region. All welcome, food available, free event.
Chers membres et ami-e-s du Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Montréal (CAP-CPC),
CAP-CPC aura sa prochaine réunion mensuelle le samedi 21 avril 2012 chez Tess Tesalona, 653 Allion (Central), Lasalle, H8P 1K6 (Métro Jolicoeur, autobus 112) de 10h à 12h midi. Nous discuterons entre autres de la suite de la tournée des defenseurs des droits humains.
Après la réunion de la CAP-CPC nous allons déjeuner chez Tess T avec un invité très spécial en provenance des Philippines: Francisca "France" Castro, National Secretary of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Écrire à Tess Tesalona (tess_iwc@yahoo.ca) pour d'autres suggestions pour l'ordre du jour de la réunion et pour signifier votre présence. RSVP. Rendez-vous tous! :-)
DERNIER MINUTE! "Cordillera Day", un événement annuel qui honore les populations autochtones de la région de la Cordillère des Philippines, sera célébrée dimanche prochain, le 22 avril 2012 de 15h à 17:30h à 6767 Côte des neiges (métro Côte des neiges). Nous soutenons l'évenement organisée par l'Association philippine Cordillère de Montréal. Dr. Chandu Claver de Bayan le Canada sera le conférencier d'honneur, et les six tribus de la région de la Cordillère sera représenté dans les performances de l'après-midi. Le groupe culturelle de PINAY sera également présent et un membre de l'Initiative de Beaconsfield exposera l'impact des compagnies minières canadiennes dans cette région riche en ressources. Tous sont les bienvenus, de la nourriture disponible, événement gratuit.
+++++
Dear members and friends of the Centre for Philippine Concerns - Montreal (CAP-CPC),
CAP-CPC will have the next regular monthly meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2012 @ Tess's Tesalona's house, 653 Allion (Central), Lasalle, H8P 1K6 (Métro Jolicoeur, autobus 112), from 10:00 am to 12noon. We will discuss follow up to the Human rights tour, and other upcoming events (see Last Minute news below)
After the CAP-CPC meeting we will lunch and share at Tess's place with a very special guest from the Philippines: Francisca "France" Castro, National Secretary of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Please email Tess Tesalona (tess_iwc@yahoo.ca) with points to include on the agenda and to confirm your attendance. RSVP. See you all there! :-)
LAST MINUTE NEWS! Cordillera Day, an annual event honouring the indigenous people of the Cordillera region of the Philippines, will be celebrated this coming Sunday, April 22, 2012 from 3pm-5:30pm at 6767 Côte des neiges (Metro Côte des neiges). We are supporting the event organized by the Philippine Cordillera Association of Montreal. Dr. Chandu Claver of Bayan Canada will be the keynote speaker, and the six tribes of the Cordillera region will be represented in the afternoon's performances. The PINAY cultural group will also perform and a member of the Beaconsfield Initiative will expose the impact of Canadian mining companies on this resource rich region. All welcome, food available, free event.
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