The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=76408
By Christian V. Esguerra, Christine Gaylican
Inquirer

SAYING it wanted to send a strong message to investors that the Philippines was “not a nation of prostitutes,” a Malacañang-formed commission yesterday urged the government to review a mining law that allows foreigners 100 percent ownership of local mines, and to stop the operations of Australia’s Lafayette Mining Ltd. on Rapu-Rapu island, Albay.

The Rapu-Rapu fact-finding commission headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes called on the government to cancel the environmental compliance certificate issued to two companies of the Lafayette Group, and for a moratorium on mining on the island.

It also asked the government to “review the Philippine mining act, specifically the provision on the ownership and management of mining firms and operations,” Reuters news agency said, quoting from what it said was an advance copy of the report. (more…)

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006052064543.html
By ROSEMARIE FRANCISCO

MANILA, May 19 (Reuters) — The Philippines should review its mining law that allows foreigners to own 100 percent of projects and shut down local operations of Australia’s Lafayette Mining Ltd. after two cyanide spills, a report said on Friday.

President Gloria Macagapal Arroyo created the Rapu Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFC) to look into the environmental impact of the spills in October at Lafayette’s zinc and copper mine on Rapu Rapu island, 350 km (220 miles) southeast of Manila.

In an advance copy of the RRFC report seen by Reuters, the commission asked the government to “review the Philippine mining act, specifically the provision on the ownership and management of mining firms and operations.” (more…)

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/may/20/yehey/top_stories/20060520top1.html

A presidential fact-finding commission has recommended the closure of an Australian mining firm accused of polluting Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay.

The commission, headed by Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon, submitted its recommendations to President Arroyo in Malacañang Friday.

It called for the closure of Lafayette Philippines Inc., saying it violated 11 of 29 conditions of its environmental clearance certificate.

The government suspended the operations at the Lafayette mine in January after two toxic spills in October last year that resulted in a series of fishkills and toxic-metal contamination.
Analysis revealed that the spills contained a high level of cyanide and effluents, indicating failure of Lafayette’s detoxification system. (more…)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2006/05/20/body.recommends.closure.of.aussie.operated.mine.html

MANILA — A fact-finding body created by the President to investigate a cyanide-laced waste spill at an Australian-operated mine in the country said Friday that the mine should be closed.

Lafayette Philippines Inc., wholly owned by Australia’s Lafayette Mining Ltd., protested saying that closing its gold, copper and zinc mine on Rapu Rapu island southeast of Manila was too harsh a punishment for the offense.

Amid heavy rains, effluents from the mine tailing ponds overflowed on October 31 into two creeks, which were later found to contain increased levels of cyanide. Dead fish were recovered in the area days and months later, the Rapu Rapu Fact Finding Commission reported. (more…)