Indigenous People, farmers call to PNoy: STAND FOR US! AMMB NOW!
Likas-Yaman Caravan para sa AMMB (14-17 October 2012)
Indigenous People, farmers call to PNoy: STAND FOR US! AMMB NOW!
We, indigenous people and farmers from different areas in Luzon (from Romblon, Mindoro, Batangas, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Bulacan) have come together to join this caravan to Metro Manila to reiterate our call for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and the urgent passage of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB)!
Stop our marginalization: act on our calls
The government has recently announced the forging of peace agreement with the Bangsamoro people of Mindanao. While we welcome this positive development, we also seek the openness and resolve of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to engage mining-affected communities—specifically indigenous peoples and farmers—to hear our stories, and act on our calls.
Stop destroying our land, our life! RESPECT OUR RIGHTS!
Mining is a threat to life. Mining explorations and developments in Nueva Vizcaya, Tampakan in South Cotabato, and in other areas across the nation is reinforced by militarization resulting toincreased human rights violations and abuses towards opposing parties—a growing number of anti-mining activists, IP and peasant rights defender were killed in the past years. Meanwhile, this development aggression inarguably affects not only the natural environment but also the livelihood of mining-affected downstream communities, specifically farmers and fisher folks.
Thus, we strongly call for the (1) revocation of the FTAAs of OceanaGold Philippines Inc for the Didipio Gold and Copper Project and SMI/Xstrata for the Tampakan Copper Gold Mining Project, (2) moratorium on all large-scale mining operations in the country and (3) passage of the AMMB!
Stand for us, AMMB NOW!
We call on to President Aquino, his administration, and policy-makers to go beyond EO 79 and the Mining Act of 1995. What our country needs is a new law that will address the issues and concerns that mining-affected communities have long been raising, and the devastation of our rich but fragile ecosystems.
The Alternative Minerals Management Bill (Philippine Mineral Resources Act of 2012) seeks to resolve the many problems faced by communities and local government units, and our country in general, due to the gaps and flawed framework embodied in the current Mining Act of 1995, and consequently presents a framework for the rational, needs-based, rights-based, domestic-oriented utilization, development and management of our mineral resources. By supporting AMMB and making it a priority bill, we are making a stand with the people—for mining-affected communities, indigenous peoples, the environment, and for the present and future generations of our country!
***
The SOS-Yamang Bayan Network is a national, multi-sectoral movement composed of individual advocates, mining-affected communities, national peoples’ alliances, environmental organizations and networks, church-based organizations, human rights organizations, national NGOs, sectoral organizations from the indigenous peoples, youth, women, farmers, congressional representatives, leaders and personalities advocating for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 and the enactment of a new minerals management bill.
