Mining group Alyansa Tigil Mina expresses concern over NPA Attacks in Taganito

Alyansa Tigil Mina expresses its deep regrets and anguish to the resulting social disorder brought about by the NPA attacks to the Taganito Mining Project in Claver, Surigao del Norte.  Beside the destruction of equipment and damaged structures, our alliance is disturbed that the communities in and around the mining site are the biggest losers in these unfortunate events.

ATM believes that challenging the Philippine government’s policy on revitalizing the mining industry as a misplaced priority, is a sound position. Our advocacy is based on the analysis that the political, environmental and social costs of large-scale mining far outweigh the economic benefits it claims.

We believe that active non-violence is one of the most effective way of pushing our messages, and we will continue our work using non-violent strategies. The lives and livelihoods of rural poor communities, especially indigenous peoples, remain to be the central element in our advocacy.

Mining operations in the area formed the driving force resulting to severe environmental damage.

The attack of the rebels was a response, for which they and only themselves will decide.  Indigenous peoples in the surrounding areas were neither participants to the environmental genocide nor punitive NPA attacks.  In both cases, the IPs bear the brunt of the impacts.

This incident reveals several flaws on the way the government is pursuing its mislaid policy on mining,   as its reactions to the people’s struggles against mining is unconvincing.  The initial responses from both the government and the mining industry are both over-reactive and ridiculous, bordering on disrespect. Both are mistakes.

The event is a wake-up call to the Aquino government and the Philippine mining industry.

We caution the government in its reliance to sweeping and simplistic reactions to the incident.  To respond with pure military power without addressing the social issues will only increase the tension and threaten the already fragile peace situation in the area.  We believe that this incident must not compromise the peace negotiations.  Militarization of the area must not be an option, and must be avoided.

The claim of the military that the attack was purely motivated by revolutionary taxes is almost a mockery.  There are legitimate grievances, including consent, social acceptability, working conditions and environmental costs, that need to be addressed. We know that there is a pending case at the Supreme Court questioning the legality of this mining project.  Claiming that extortion is the basis for the attacks is simplistic sidestepping of the issues, and a case of self-absolution.

To accuse insurgents and activists as anti-development because they thrive in poverty to swell their numbers, reflect an immature and irresponsible appreciation of the issues surrounding large-scale mining.  The Chamber of Mines has a different view on development from the environmental and IP-support groups opposing mining operations.  The roads to these development scenarios are as varied and divergent as the modes and strategies to combat poverty.  But to put premium on their “view” of development as the correct path to development, mirror the narrow perspective of the miners.

It is understandable that the government and the mining industry will be concerned with investors’ confidence.  We sincerely hope that the Aquino administration display the same eagerness in promoting and protecting the general welfare and sound environment of the communities being impacted by mining.

We also hope that the DENR will come out as strongly for the protection of key biodiversity areas and watersheds, as they have come out emphatically worried about the status of the mining industry after this incident.  The DENR is coming out as a well-informed agency on how to utilize our mineral resources.  We look forward to the day they also demonstrate heartfelt conviction to be the stewards of the earth that is also their other mandate.

We pray that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be as enthusiastic in recognizing and respecting local autonomy when LGUs decide to reject mining in their localities, with the same fervour they displayed in being concerned with the security of the mining companies and their executives.

We wish that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be equally concerned about genuinely producing a National Industrialization Plan, as it is gravely concerned about the impact of this attack to mineral trade and investments in the Philippines.  Without this industrialization plan, the current rate of extraction and exportation of minerals is as irrational as the incentives and tax breaks given to mining companies.

We urge the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct a fact-finding mission to determine the extent of human rights abuse that were perpetrated.  For those responsible for abuses, they should be held accountable.  In the same way that mining companies must be held accountable when they infringe on the rights of communities to move freely, access to water, self-determination and just compensation.

Finally, we challenge the national government and the Chamber of Mines to a national policy dialogue to discuss and confront the issues surrounding large-scale mining in the Philippines.  We believe that a reasonable and sensible discussion is possible.  But a dialogue will only be fruitful if there is honest resolve to find solutions, taking into account all perspectives, and not only from the mining industry.

We have posed this challenge to then newly-appointed DENR Secretary last year. We are still waiting for an invitation.

Should the government fail to respond adequately and in a balanced way to this incident, we fear that local resistance to mining can only escalate. –Manila Times