Military Operations in ComVal Linked to Mining

A broad alliance of environmental groups, human rights organizations, religious groups, research organizations, academe, civil society groups, and people’s organizations called Panalipdan-Southern Mindanao lambasted the ongoing military operations in the hinterlands of Compostela Valley, particularly in the municipality of New Bataan.

“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’s resistance against mining under the Investment Defense Force (IDF) and mining liberalization policy of the Arroyo regime”, said Panalipdan-SMR spokesperson Francis Morales.

Morales stressed that the IDF being implemented in ComVal Province and Davao Oriental further strengthens the previous military support granted by the Arroyo regime to large-scale and foreign mining corporations.

“Recently, 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 has been announced by Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro during the recent 8th Asia-Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition 2008″, he added.

“Part of the said policy is to increase the recruitment of CAFGUs and establishment of “Barangay Defense System” (BDS) to augment the security for ongoing and proposed mining sites and other anti-people and anti-environment projects”, the Panalipdan leader said.

Panalipdan-SMR also lambasted the irresponsible labeling of New Bataan as “influenced municipality” and “operations center” of the New People’s Army (NPA) by Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas, commanding general of the 10th Infantry Division.

“Such statement is an overt justification of militarizing and terrorizing the people of New Bataan, including the local government unit officials, to facilitate and protect the explorations and operations of mining corporations”, Morales said.

Panalipdan-SMR has researched and documented reports of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) that there are 37 mining applications in New Bataan which is an identified area having gold, silver and copper. Identified mining corporations that have applied for mining explorations in New Bataan are Eastern Horizon Mining Corporation with 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.

Environmental groups are alarmed to find out these mining applications because mining explorations and operations will 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 residential and agricultural uses in ComVal province.

“Militarization is very common in areas where community resistance is strong which resulted to displacement, intimidation and human rights abuses, as in the case of New Bataan and other areas of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, added Morales.

Panalipdan-SMR is echoing 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 and Davao Oriental.##

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