Mining is a root cause of violence in the Philippines today. TVI Resources, a Canadian mining company, is raising tensions with the Canatuan mine in western Mindanao. Our group visited indigenous people affected by their operations. We heard the story of tribal chieftain Timuay 'Boy' Anoy, who was awarded the title to his ancestral domain by no less than the president herself, but who has since been banned from entering his land by the Canadian company. We met the Galves family who had just been evicted as squatters. One wonders who are the real squatters! In Libay, Sibutad, the team visited what they thought was the closed-down mine of Philex Mining Corporation. Local rice farmers there suffer from a 50 percent reduction in their produce and their animals have become sterile from the leaching of chemicals into the rice paddies and irrigation systems. Even the spring where people bathe is polluted. People are itchy after washing. The company is considering applying for full scale mining again in the area.

The Philippine military is at the forefront of protecting the interests of mining. There has been an alarming rise in the number of extra-judicial killings and the Philippine military is largely responsible.

It is no wonder that Clare Short has come away from the Philippines with fire in her belly, saying that investors in the city of London must not invest in mining in the Philippines. The European Union and its institutions must also re-examine aid policies. The people of Midsalip took courage from Clare Short’s visit and the promises of the team to bring their voices to Manila and back to London. The solidarity lacking 20 years ago has at last become a reality for the people of Midsalip.

Rio Tinto Campaign
by Frank Nally ssc

The Columbans campaigned against mining company Rio Tinto’s bid to mine in the Philippines in the mid 1990s. Rio Tinto left the Philippines after Catholic bishops and people resisted the company. However, it is again being reported that the Rio Tinto Group, and the Toronto-based CVRM may now invest in copper and nickel mining projects there. The prospect of the return of Rio Tinto is very disconcerting since mining is causing so much conflict throughout the archipelago. When the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines called for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995, they said that, "allowing the interests of big mining corporations to prevail over people’s right to these sources amounts to violating their right to life".

The political situation is still volatile and unstable, and widespread corruption is exacerbated by the potential vast amounts of money that can be made out of the extractive industries at the moment with high prices for all mineral commodities. There is absolutely no confidence in the country that the government can protect the environment and the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen. A few in the political elite will benefit but as the bishops state: "The promised economic benefits of mining by these transnational corporations are outweighed by the dislocation of communities, especially among our indigenous brothers and sisters, the risks to health and livelihood and massive environmental damage".

The Columbans will again campaign to have Rio Tinto - whose headquarters are in the UK - listen to the voice of the Filipino Bishops and local communities. Write to Rio Tinto and ask them to stay out of the Philippines at this time. Contact: Paul Skinner, Chairman, Rio Tinto plc., 6 St James’s Square, London, UK, SW1Y 4LD. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 2399.