Police block anti-mining protestors’

The police yesterday blocked an anti-mining protest in Sipalay City, where more than 400 marchers, opposing and resisting the operation of big mining firms and rising militarization, attempted to deliver their message, the Negros Concern for Environment Protection said ina press release.

The protest was organized by the Defend Patrimony Negros.

Inspector Arnel Arpon, Sipalay police chief, had imposed a “no permit, rally policy” in Sipalay, that, the press release alleged, was a clear violation of the constitutional right to redress grievances and hold political actions.

But Arpon yesterday said it was not true that the protestors were not allowed to stage their protest. They had a permit to protest at the plaza in Barangay 2 in Sipalay, Arpon said.

However,at about 11:30 a.m. they moved to the city public market outside Barangay 2 where they had no permit to stage a protest, he added.

Since they did not have a permit to stage their protest there they were not allowed to do so, he said.

The protesting farmerscalled for the revocation of the permits granted to Colet Mines Development Corp., Philex Gold Philippines Inc.and Vulcan Mining and aired their opposition to the re-opening of the Maricalum Mining Corp.

Gina Alaton, the secretary general of the group, said that at stake was the livelihood and the environment of Sipalay that will be destroyed by the mining operations.

Alaton said in 1996 a mining disaster in Sipalay City resulted in fish kills, destroyed farmlands and caused skin disease, the press release also said.*

VDS October 21 2008
Anti-mining protest in sipalay city
 

tioKalikasan-PNE
KALIKASAN PEOPLE'S NETWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
26 Matulungin St. Central District, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel./Fax; +63 (2) 924-8756; E-mail: kalikasan.pne@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE
11 October 2008

Environmentalists suspect Malacañang to be behind "small-scale mining" operations of mining TNCs

Three days before the opening of 8th Asia Pacific Mining Conference in the Philippines, militant environmental groups and indigenous people, led by Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), disclosed records of illicit acquisition of small-scale mining permits and contracts by mining transnational corporations (mining TNCs) in a press conference. The number of these cases is becoming more apparent in different mining areas, yet concerned agencies show no intention of curbing it.

"Since 2006 there is a surge in the processing and approval of small-scale mining applications of mining TNCs. This is becoming a modus operandi of mining TNCs for them to easily get hold of the county's mineral lands and extract our resources. This is illegal but the Arroyo administration and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are allowing it. Thus, Malacañang, if not turning a blind eye, could be directly involved and benefitting from this trend," expressed Clemente Bautista Jr., national coordinator of Kalikasan-PNE.

Based on Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) there were only 70 small-scale mining permits approved in 2004 but this increased to 173 in 2007 or 147%.

Kalikasan PNE reported that among large-scale mining companies that are involved in small-scale mining operations or having small scale mining agreements are Platinum Group of Metals Corp. (PGMC), Citinickel Mines and Development Corp., Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporations (SNPDC), A3 UNA, Mindoro Resources Ltd., among others.

According to Rene Pineda of Concerned Citizens Against Pollution(COCAP) and member of the anti-mining plunder alliance Defend Patrimony!, some of the said companies are even registered as largely foreign-owned. He cited the Canadian-owned MBMI Resources Inc. who operates behind Filipino-owned corporations but records reveal as the main investor and holder of several small-scale mines in Palawan.

"Our research confirms that MBMI Resources Inc. is indeed a major shareholder of companies with small-scale mining permits like Narra Nickel Mining & Development Inc., Patricia Louise Mining & Development Corp., Sara Marie Mining Inc., and Madridejos Mining Corporation. The total-paid up capital came largely from MBMI Resources Inc. while the local counterparts contributed only a small percentage. This matter has already been raised by another mining company who is interested in the mining areas acquired by MBMI, but the DENR still has not probed on the issue," Pineda pointed out.

 

Nelson Mallari, an Aeta leader of PROTECT Zambales, a provincial alliance against mining plunder recounts a similar case. "In June this year, Nihao Mineral Resources Int'l and Geograce Philippines obtained small-scale mining permits from the Zambales provincial government a month after the governor cancelled all 'regulatory approvals'. It was baffling at first how these small companies without track record in the mining industry were given vast tracks of lands in such a speedy rate. It later became understandable when it was revealed that former DENR Secretary Michael Defensor and close relatives of high government officials, were behind these two companies," said Mallari.

Based on reports, last June, Geograce teamed up with Brazil-based Vale do Rio Doce, the world's second largest mining company, for the joint exploration of copper and gold in Masbate island. Geograce has acquired rights to explore, develop and operate mining tenements throughout the Philippines for a variety of mineral deposits. To date, the company has negotiated for exclusive access and acquisition rights over nearly 240,000 hectares of claims in nickel, gold, copper and chromite. It also signed a US$150 million joint venture with China's Jiangxi Rare Earth and Rare Metals Tungsten Group.

"At a glance, Filipinos applying for small-scale permits are not out of the ordinary, as in the case of those in Palawan and of Defensor. What is disturbing is that a review of documents and applications would reveal that majority of the shares and capital is owned by foreign and big mining corporations. It suggests that the Filipino owners act only as a dummy and as front, thus the application of small-scale mining permits is a scheme by mining TNCs and their local partners to acquire more profit through other modes plunder of the country's mineral resources," explained Bautista.

Bautista expounded that, "It is impossible for government officials and agencies not to notice this trend and scheme, as each mining applicant is required to submit a profile and list of shareholders. A quick look at these documents would reveal that mining TNCs are directly involved in small-scale mining. It is not unlikely that the reason this mode is being allowed is because influential individuals close to the Arroyo administration, with the likes of Mike Defensor, are also gaining from this scheme."

"The Senate and Congress should investigate these cases, as the mining TNCs have already caused massive environmental destruction and widespread poverty among the affected communities. These TNCs have already raked in billions of pesos in terms of profits and their other means of plunder should be looked into and not be allowed. As for us environmentalists, we would keep track of these operations as this could be another multimillion scam that involve the friends and higher officials of Malacañang, maybe even President Arroyo herself," ended Bautista.

Reference: Clemente Bautista 09228449787, National Coordinator, KPNE

KALIKASAN- People's Network for the Environment is a network of people's organizations (POs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and environmental advocates. It believes that the struggle for the environment is a struggle of the people, thus all environmental action shall have the interest of the majority at their core.