Crushing
Opposition to Mining Operations
Second of two parts
Religious leaders and civil authorities suspect that behind the military
campaigns and offensives in Samar and Leyte islands are mining interests.
BY
DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat
The Supreme Court’s (SC) decision
December last year reversing its earlier ruling concerning the legality of
the Mining Act of 1995 has paved the way for U.S. and other foreign mining
corporations to claim mining rights in the country, the report of the
recently-concluded International Solidarity Mission (ISM) said. These
corporations have particularly penetrated Samar, an island in central
Philippines rich in bauxite, nickel and copper.
Alex Lagunzad, secretary-general of
Karapatan-EV, said that Samar is one of the Arroyo government’s priority
mining areas. However, mining operations in the area are met by stiff
opposition from the people of Samar led by church people, environmentalist
groups and local government officials.
In turn, this opposition has been met
by harsh military attacks. The Karapatan chapter in this region relates
the attempt on the lives of Fr. Allan Caparro, IFI, and Aileen, his wife,
last Feb. 18 in Abuyog, Leyte to their anti-mining position. Leyte is the
neighboring island province of Samar. Both islands including the province
of Biliran constitute the whole of Region 8.
Fr. Caparro is head of an anti-mining
alliance in Calbayog, Western Samar. He and Aileen were critically wounded
when they were fired upon by three motorcycle-riding men.
Lagunzad
said religious leaders and civil authorities suspect that behind the
military campaigns and offensives in Samar and Leyte islands are mining
interests.
The young human rights worker added
that these attacks against anti-mining activists came after Secretary
Angelo Reyes of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
assured foreign mining investors, during the International Conference on
Mining Investment, Feb. 3, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be mobilized to protect
their investments and operations in the country.
In a privilege speech delivered during
the congressional inquiry on human rights violations in the region, Rep.
Reynaldo Uy (first district, Samar) confirmed Lagunzad’s claims. Uy said
that military operations that have resulted in gross human rights
violations happened in areas where there are mining interests and people’s
resistance.
The congressman also pointed out that
militarization is intense in areas covered by the 54,000-hectare land that
the Chamber of Mines in the Philippines has requested to be excluded from
the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP). This 347,000-hectare protected area
is an environment conservation project.
Uy is one
of the co-authors of the proposed SINP that would prohibit mining
activities within the park.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lists two
mining companies which have an ongoing exploration in the region,
particularly in Southern Leyte: the Buena Suerte Mining Corporation which
explores San Francisco, San Ricardo, Pintuyan and Liloan (6,611.59 has.)
and Orophilippine Ventures, Inc. which explores Sogod, Liloan, St. Bernard
and Libagon. Gold, silver and other associated minerals can be mined in
these areas.
Ironic realities
Although abundant with natural and
mineral resources, ironies perennially abound in this island.
Research by the Regional Peasant
Alliance in Eastern Visayas shows that only 40 landholding families
monopolize about 7,116 sq. km. of agricultural lands in the region. Being
fertile, these lands yield good harvests of coconut, abaca, sugarcane,
palay (rice grains) tobacco, root crops, coffee and corn. However, the
region’s farmers continue to live in dire poverty.
While Samar is also known for its
abundant geothermal power reserve that supplies the National Power
Corporation (Napocor) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC),
Samarnons pay the highest rate for electricity in the country. Households
also experience regular weekly power outages. In fact, the ISM team who
went to the town of Villareal experienced such during its overnight stay
in the area.
Fighting repression
Historically, Lagunzad said Samar has
been highly militarized due to an active peasant movement.
History books show that violent
attacks on the people’s rights occur whenever the people’s resistance to
foreign domination and the struggle for democracy, genuine land reform,
and social emancipation are strong.
Twenty thousand Samarnons were killed
in the infamous Balangiga (town in Eastern Samar) massacre in 1901. U.S.
troops mercilessly killed men, women, and children in retaliation for an
incident where American soldiers were killed by Filipino guerrillas.
And today, despite the vicious attacks
on the lives and rights of the people of Samar, its people continue to
challenge state brutality intended to protect the interests of foreign and
local big businesses. “After the dreaded six months, we’re still alive and
fighting,” Lagunzad said.
The struggle for justice for the
several victims of military atrocities in Samar has been elevated as a
national concern. The findings of the ISM team in Samar, together with
that of the four other ISM teams, which visited Hacienda Luisita in
Tarlac, Oriental Mindoro, Surigao del Sur and Moro communities in Manila,
have been disseminated nationally and international. Copies of the
findings and documented were also presented to the impeachment team of the
House of Representatives to be used as evidence against President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
The foreign participants to the ISM
have also vowed to bring these cases to their countries. Aside from
propagating the findings, they will ask their governments to withdraw all
forms of support and aid to the Arroyo government.
Bulatlat
Part 1:
BACK TO
TOP ■
PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION ■
COMMENT
© 2004 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications
Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided
its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.