The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

21 June 2006

IP LEADERS UNITED AGAINST RAPURAPU REOPENING

Indigenous People (IP) leaders from different communities in the country unite in expressing vehement opposition to the resumption of Lafayette’s mining operation in Rapurapu.
“Nababahala ako sa muling pagbubukas ng Lafayette sa Rapurapu. Magkakaroon ito ng snowball effect sa buong Pilipinas kung saan may mining operations and applications. Sa kabila
ng pagpayag ng DENR na muling buksan ang Lafayette, kami dito sa Didipio tuloy ang bandila ng pakikibaka.” (I am bothered by the reopening of Lafayette in Rapu Rapu. It would have a snowball effect to all the mining operations and applications in the country. In spite of DENR’s permit for Lafayette to resume operations, we in Didipio continue to fight against it.), Kagawad Peter Duyapat, Chairman of Didipio Earth Savers Movement (DESAMA) in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya said.

Salvador Dimain, chairman of the Maporac Aeta Organization in Cabangan, Zambales meanwhile reiterated resistance to the DENR decision and holds the struggle as their own. “Tinututulan namin ang muling pagbubukas ng Lafayette Mining sa Rapurapu. Ang laban ng mga taga Rapurapu ay laban din namin dito sa Cabangan, Zambales. Hindi lang mga katutubo ang naaapektuhan kundi ang boung mamamayan.” (We oppose the resumption of Lafayette Mining in Rapu Rapu. The struggle of the people of Rapu Rapu is also our struggle here in Cabangan. Everybody is affected in this fight, not just the indigenous peoples.)

“Mining can never be sustainable. Its destructive and irreversible effects far outweigh the promised development.” said Gerry Digma, an IP leader from the KALINGA Inc., Baler, Aurora.

Meanwhile, Timuay Boy Anoy, a Subanon Tribal Leader from Siocon, Zamboanga del Sur heads his community in condemning Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes’s decision for the resumption of Lafayette’s operations. “Bilang isang katutubo na matagal nang biktima ng mapang-aping malakihang pagmimina, kinokondena ko ang muling pagbubukas ng Lafayette sa Rapurapu.” (As an IP who has been victim of oppressive large-scale mining, I condemn the resumption of Lafayette in Rapu Rapu.)

Anoy also denounces Reyes’s proclamation when he visited Siocon that TVI, the mining company operating in the area, like Lafayette has not made any violations. “Paano niyang nasabi yan na tatlong oras lang siya dito? Nakita ba niya ang totoong nangyayyari sa amin?” (How can he say that when he only stayed three hours? Did he see what is really happening to us?)

Also expressing the same opinion on the decision are Victor Aying of Macambol Tribal Community of Mati, Davao Oriental and Deadato Pame, Chairman of the Panon Ug Alyansa sa Katawhan nga Nagpanalipod sa Kinaiyahan, San Miguel Tago, Inc.(PAAKK SMTI) of Surigao del Sur.

Philippine Misereor Partnership (PMP) - Mining Advocacy Project
2/F, 1052 Bldg , 1052 J. Nakpil St. Malate, Manila
Tel. #: 521-3381 (pmpsecretariat@yahoo.com)

Contacts: Eero Brillantes (eeropb@yahoo.com) 09163262446
Project Coordinator
OJ Acaba (jvacaba@yahoo.com) 09154701529
Technical Staff

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)
Contact: Abi Aguilar (abi_aguilar@yahoo.com) 09166409444

http://opinion.inq7.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=5754
By Neal Cruz
Last updated 00:04am (Mla time) 06/21/2006
Published on Page A12 of the June 21, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

YES, the Lafayette mining firm cheated in reporting the volume of its mined metals on Rapu-Rapu Island. Yes, it may have cheated on its tax payments. Yes, it violated mining rules. No, it did not have enough safeguards. Yes, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was negligent in monitoring Lafayette’s mining operations.

All of these Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes admitted at last Monday’s Kapihan sa Manila (Hotel). But the repercussions of closing down Lafayette and abandoning the open pit mines could be worse, he said. If the mine is closed and the pits are abandoned, small-scale miners would invade it like they have done on Mount Diwalwal in Mindanao and the result would be much worse. They would dig into the mountainside and tunnels would collapse and kill miners. (more…)

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2006/19/c7278.html

June 19 2006

TORONTO - Thistle Mining Inc. (the “Company”) (AIM:TMG)
wishes to announce that its board of directors has decided to begin a
process to explore strategic alternatives for the Company’s Masbate gold
project located on the island of Masbate in the Philippines (”Masbate Project”)
with a view to enhancing shareholder value. These alternatives include but are
not limited to the combination or merger of the Company’s 100% wholly owned
subsidiary, Philippine Gold Ltd (”PGO”), with another gold mining
entity.

PGO holds the Company’s Philippine assets including the Masbate Project.
The Company has engaged an international investment bank to act as its
exclusive financial advisor in this process. There can be no assurance that the
exploration of strategic alternatives will result in a transaction. PGO
is incorporated in the United Kingdom and together with the Company has a
64% beneficial interest in Filminera Resource Company (”Filminera”) and a
100% interest in Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corporation, both
of which are incorporated in the Philippines. Filminera holds the license to
explore and mine for gold, silver and other minerals within the contract area
that covers an area of approximately 83.36 sq km pursuant to the Mineral
Production Sharing Agreement for 25 years commencing in July 1997.

Additional information relating to the mineral and resource estimates
and feasibility study for the Masbate Project, can be found in the
technical report titled “Masbate Gold Project, Masbate Island, Philippines Form
NI 43-101F1 Technical Report” dated April 30, 2006, which was prepared by
Mr. Andrew James Vigar of Mining Associates and Mr. Stewart Charles Lewis
of IMC