| Mining-affected area in Nueva Vizcaya visited by CHR |
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| Friday, 27 November 2009 10:53 |
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CITY OF MALOLOS—The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) is hailing the order of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to further investigate the alleged illegal demolition and dispersal operations conducted in a mining-affected community, which hosts an Australian mining company owned by OceanaGold Corp. Inc. (OGPI) in Nueva Vizcaya. The ATM is an advocacy group and a people’s movement composed of more than 80 organizations from mining-affected communities and civil society organizations nationwide. This developed as environmentalists in Bulacan continue to call for the total marble-quarry ban inside the Biak na Bato National Park. Vic Villela, an environmentalist leader from San Miguel town, said the quarry operation inside the park not only brings environmental destruction to communities near the park, but also destroys a major historical site in the province. Biak na Bato was where a short-lived Philippine republic was established by members of the Katipunan during the Spanish era. In a statement, ATM said as early as 2007, the CHR has been receiving reports of human-rights violations in the area, allegedly related to the operation of the Didipio Copper-Gold Mining Project. Barangay Didipio is one of the 23 barangays in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, covered by OGPI under the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement 001, which covers 21,465 hectares located in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces. The CHR, headed by Leila de Lima, conducted an on-site visit to the barangay on November 5 and was accompanied by Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban, Didipio barangay captain Marilou Nablul, along with representatives of nongoverment organizations from Didipio Earth Savers’ Multi-Purpose Association, ATM, Philippine Human Rights Information Center, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, and Task Force Detainee of the Philippines. De Lima was quoted as saying on October 16 that “the rights of the indigenous inhabitants and residents of barangay Didipio to have an abode, free ingress and egress from their homes cannot be impaired on the whim and caprices of the government, let alone a private enterprise such as OceanaGold.” ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera said, ATM takes heart in the consistent performance of Chairperson de Lima in addressing the concerns of the indigenous peoples in Nueva Vizcaya. The quick and timely response of the CHR with the complaint filed by ATM in behalf of the communities attests to the strong resolve of Chair de Lima in leaving up to the high expectations of ordinary people that the CHR will uphold and defend their human rights. The personal visit of de Lima to the actual site of the complaint should send a clear signal not only to CHR, but to other government agencies as well, that people are entitled to the genuine service of the government.” In a public dialog in Bayombong town, Nablul and Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban expressed strong opposition to OGPI, claiming its lack of respect for the local government officials regarding its operations. 
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