Philippines: Anti-mining elder arrested in Rapu-Rapu rally

But freed as townsfolk storm local jail, vow to stage larger protests

14 November 2007– Two protesters, including a 69 year old community leader, were arrested and temporarily detained by local police during a rally in Rapu-Rapu island, Albay while calling for the closure of an Australian-owned mining project in the area, green watchdog Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) today reported.

At around 3:00 this afternoon, Rapu-Rapu police personnel arrested and briefly held in detention 69-year old community elder Mr. Antonio Casitas and a Stephen Prestado of Ateneo de Naga University during a hundreds-strong protest in front of the municipal hall of Barangay Poblacion in Rapu-Rapu island, said Kalikasan PNE National Coordinator Clemente Bautista Jr., citing reports from the field.

The two protesters were detained by the police for over an hour in the municipal jail in Poblacion but were released around 4:15 this afternoon after around 400 protesters stormed the jail, threatening to file charges against Casitas’ captors, Bautista said.

“We condemn the use of harassment against Rapu-Rapu folk who want Lafayette’s project stopped and laud the vigilant efforts of residents to defend their civil and political rights and patrimony,” Bautista said.

Casitas, at the time of his arrest, was leading a rally or a Kampong Bayan (People’s Camp) in front of the municipal hall of Poblacion, where a meeting by the Sangguniang Bayan was taking place. The protesters were dispersed at around 3:15 p.m.

The protest, which started earlier this morning, called for the closure of Lafayette mining amid fish kills which hit several villages near the mine last October, said Arieto Radores, Spokesperson for Umalpas Ka-Bicol, a regional organization against mining and land use conversion.

Also harassed by the police during the dispersal were Simeon Incenarial, 29 years old of Barangay Carugcog, and Lola Corazon David, 66 years old of Barangay Poblacion.

Radores said that residents vowed to again stage the Kampong Bayan to press their demands for Lafayette’s closure.

Rapu-Rapu townsfolk have been petitioning and calling for the closure of Lafayette’s mine project since the mine opened in 2005, citing as reasons for their opposition the destruction that the mining operations brought on their livelihoods and local ecosystems.

Casitas, a vocal critic of the Rapu-rapu polymetallic mining project owned by Lafayette Mining Limited of Australia, is currently Head Servant of Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa (SISK), an island-wide organization.

Stephen, a student, was taking video footage at the site as past of his volunteer research.

References: Mr. Clemente Bautista, Jr. Kalikasan-PNE National Coordinator (0922-844-9787)
Mr. Arieto Radores, Spokesperson, UMALPAS KA-Bikol (0910-814-5040)

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