Thursday, November 13, 2008 Group links military operations to mining in ComVal By Ben O. Tesiorna
A PEOPLE'S organization, Panalipdan-Southern Mindanao, lambasted the ongoing military operations in the hinterlands of Compostela Valley.
Panalipdan-SMR claims that the operation is aimed to protect, not the interests of the community, but the mining companies doing business in the province.
The military, however, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is there because of the presence of the New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the area, whoexact revolutionary taxes from the common people and mining companies.
In a statement, Panalipdan-SMR spokesperson Francis Morales said the ultimate objective of massive military operations in New Bataan and other municipalities of Compostela Valley Province and Davao Oriental is to wipe out all types of people resistance against mining under the Investment Defense Force (IDF) and mining liberalization policy of the Arroyo regime.
Morales said the IDF implemented in Compostela Valley Province and Davao Oriental further strengthens previous military support granted by the Arroyo administration to foreign and large-scale mining corporations.
"There is a government policy that allows mining companies to hire paramilitary or even military forces to secure their mining projects and interests. This policy was announced by Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro at the recent 8th Asia-Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition 2008," Morales said.
"Part of the said policy is to increase the recruitment of Cafgus and establishment of "Barangay Defense System" (BDS) to augment the security at ongoing and proposed mining sites and other anti-people and anti-environment projects," the Panalipdan leader added.
In his reaction, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Randolph Cabangbang said that the AFP is "bound to insulate the mining industry from NPA extortion activities."
"The reason for the NPA's presence in ComVal is that they are earning millions. People should understand the wisdom of deploying soldiers in critical areas instead of justifying the NPA's presence," Cabangbang said.
Panalipdan-SMR said there are 37 mining applications for New Bataan, which has been identified to have gold, silver and copper. Mining corporations that have applied for mining explorations in New Bataan are Eastern Horizon Mining Corporation with a total area of 5,682.448 hectares; Batoto Resources Corporation with 5,101.8616 hectares; New Compostela Valley Exploration Corporation with 2,685.872 hectares; First Northern Ventures Inc. with 4,212.338 hectares; and PhilCo Mining Corporation with 2,587.146 hectares.
These applications alarmed environmental groups because mining explorations and operations affect the integrity of various ecosystems in the area such as Mt. Kampalili-Tagub Range Complex, a known Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), and Andap and Caragan watershed areas that supply ample amount of the water for the residential and agricultural use in ComVal province.
"Militarization is very common in areas where community resistance is strong, which results to displacement, intimidation and human rights abuses, as in the case of New Bataan and other areas of Compostela Valley Province and Davao Oriental," added Morales.
Panalipdan-SMR echoes the demands of the affected communities, human rights and civil society groups for the stoppage of mining-instigated military operations in New Bataan and other areas of Compostela Valley Province and Davao Oriental. ( With PR)
