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Bishop of Dipolog
Bishop's Residence,
Zamboanga del Norte
Mindanao
Philippines
Dear Chairman Kilgour and honourable members of this Subcommittee,
TVI, a Canadian mining company, has been developing and operating an open pit gold mine in Canatuan, Siocon since 1994. These mining operations are against the wishes of most of the people of Siocon. The Municipal Mayor Cesar Soriano has repeatedly stated his opposition along with numerous other civil society groups including the different faith communities in town. The legitimate organization of the Subanon people of Canatuan has also continually voiced its opposition to the destructive presence of these miners in the community. This stance has been echoed by other Subanon communities who are aware of the situation.
The opposition of the people has been made abundantly clear and maintained consistently for a long time. They have maintained their opposition even when shot at and wounded in 2004 or beaten and arrested in 1999.
The operations of the company have already caused grave environment damage to an important watershed. The mountain is also a sacred place to the Subanon and it has been violated. The Subanon have suffered abuses at the hands of the company guards. Their community has been disrupted and divided against itself to serve the interests of the company.
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