INTEX RESOURCES and MINDORO OPPOSITION

This is Fr. Edu Gariguez signing off indefinitely from keeping this blog going.

We are now on the 7th day of our Hunger Strike, and the grueling experience of not taking solid food is taking its toll on me personally, and I am starting to feel weakening of my body functions. Hence, I will not be able to update this site.

Many hunger strikers have crossed the threshold of pain that they can endure, and many have given up.

But there are four of us who are determined to continue until the illegal ECC is cancelled. And we will settle for no less!

Please keep praying for us.

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One of the twenty-six Mindorenos who went on a hunger strike last week in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office in Quezon City had been rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center, at around 8 p.m. Saturday, after suffering locked jaws and cold sweats.

Edgardo Cruzado, 38, community leader from Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing NInuno – KPLN (Organization of Seven Tribes), was brought to East Avenue Medical Center at 9 p.m., Saturday where he was examined, given dextrose and was placed under observation. He was discharged at 4:30 a.m. Sunday and joined the camp again. He remains with the group, despite the medical order to stop his hunger strike. KPLN is organization of Mangyan communities from Oriental Mindoro

Cruzado is a widower with five children. His main livelihood is farming in Oriental Mindoro, and is a member of the Tadyawan tribe that holds an ancestral domain land certificate (CADC-086) in the mining-affected area.

The Mindorenos decided to go continue their hunger strike after DENR Sec. Atienza merely issued a letter to mining company Intex Resources Philippines, informing them that their ECC Is suspended for 90 days, pending submission of additional documents.
Atienza issued the suspension letter canceling the ECC after a dialogue last Nov. 18 with local government officials and civil society organizations from the two Mindoro provinces. The delegation was led by two governors, two bishops and a host of community leaders representing indigenous peoples, farmers and women from Mindoro
“We decided to rush him to the hospital after he complained of dizziness”, said Jonjon Sarmiento of Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN), the broad alliance anti-mining groups in Mindoro. He added that they got worried after Cruzado’s face felt very cold.

“We will hold Secretary Atienza personally responsible for whatever happens to the hunger strikers. He is using the sham suspension letter as an excuse not to cancel the ECC. He is again raising the issue of local autonomy, and the responsibility of local officials and communities to oppose the mining in their localities. He has missed the fact that all legal and extra-legal measures have been exhausted by the Mindorenos to oppose the entry of Intex, and yet he still signed the ECC, even under questionable circumstances. The real issue here now is whether or not Atienza wants to uphold the law,” said Mangyan Mission Coordinator Fr. Edu Gariguez.

He said that the ECC was signed by Atienza despite the absence of consultations among communities, and the lack of permission of LGUs as stated under the Mining Act and the Local Government Code.

“The local governments and the people have withdrawn their consent and launched mobilizations against Intex, but these have been disregarded, both the mining company and the DENR”, Gariguez added.

Alyansa TIgil Mina (ATM) condemned the continuing callousness of Atienza and DENR officials on their inaction on the demand of the hungers strikers, saying that there seems to be a lack of genuine leadership and commitment to resolve the matter, as the election mode grips the department.

ATM National Coordinator Jaybee Garganera also denounced Atienza’s insensitivity, saying the DENR secretary continues to ignore the Mindorenos despite their hunger strike.

“He had only met the group once, and only after being pressured with the presence of high-level personalities such as the governors, congressional representatives and bishops from Mindoro. He had never tried to face the group but had all the time and energy to host Manny Pacquiao in his triumphant return,” said Garganera.

“We, in ATM, strongly support the fight of the Mindoreños against Intex Resources and we intend to continue providing all forms of assistance to these communities and groups that have strongly aired their resistance and decisions to stop the entry of mining operations that continuously threatens environmental sustainability and most especially lives of Filipino people," concluded Garganera.

Father Robert Reyes, known as the “running priest,” continued his solidarity fasting for the group and gave out rosaries to the hunger strikers yesterday. He called on Atienza to heed the hunger strikers’ just demand. During the reflection session with the hunger strikers, he said “If anything happens to these people, the mining companies and DENR Secretary Atienza will have blood in their hands. This is not simply about land anymore, but about justice and sharing what God had given to us. Sustainable development and genuine local autonomy, if it will succeed in this case of resistance of local people against mining, will mean peace, justice and no more lying without end. Respect the decision of these indigenous peoples and the LGUs of MIndoro, Mr. Atienza.”

The group in hunger strike, together with the local government officials of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Catholic Church leaders, civil society organizations and individuals from the communities affected the project calls for the immediate revocation of INTEX ECC and demand the DENR to respect the LGUs’ mining moratorium in their respective provinces.

The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group and a people’s movement that upholds the rights of the present and future Filipinos against the persisting injustices related to mining. ATM is an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and PhilDHRRA. —(30)

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Hunger strikers from Mindoro expressed their anxiety over their physical conditions as they enter the sixth day of their hunger strike in front of the DENR here in Quezon City. This developed as one of them, Edgardo Cruzado, 38, was rushed to the hospital last night, and after medical attention, was ordered by doctors to take a light meal of bread.

Librada Isidro, community facilitator from Mangyan Mission and one of the leaders of the hunger strike, echoed the sentiments of the hunger strikers. “Nag-aalala kami at nalulungkot sa nangyari sa aming kasamahan. Nahilo siya at nanghina at umabot siya sa ganitong sitwasyon dahil patuloy na di kami pinapakinggan ni Sec. Atienza.” (We are worried and sad with what happened to one of us. He felt dizzy and weak, since we have reached this point, because Sec. Atienza still refuses to listen to us.)

She confirmed that growing anxiety of the hunger strikers, saying that “kami po ay lubhang nangangamba sa maaaring mangyari sa Pilipinas, lalo na sa isla ng Mindoro, dahil sa kagustuhan niyang magpatuloy ang pag-mimina. Hindi man lang naiisip ni Sec. Atienza ang mga sakripisyo at paghihirap ng mga tao dito sa hunger strike.” (We are fearful of what may happen to the Philippines and to the island of MIndoro, because of his consent for mining to continue. It didn’t occur to Sec. Atienza what our sacrifices and hardships mean with this hunger strike.)

Isidro echoed their call for Atienza, saying “sana po, ang gagawin sa kalikasan ay pangalagaan at proteksyonan, at alagaan ang mga Mangyang nakatira sa Mindoro. Pero bilang namumuno sa DENR, ay hindi naaangkop ang kanyang pananaw at gawain sa pagpapaunlad ng kalikasan” (We hope that he will protect and conserve the environment, and also look over the welfare of the Mangyans. But as DENR head, he has displayed inappropriate views and behavior for environmental management.)

In a radio interview Saturday afternoon, Atienza said that he can’t do anything about the hunger strike, and called on the group to break their camp, so that discussions can move forward including an investigation of the case so that accountabilities can be determined. He also hinted that legal actions against the appropriate people or agencies could be possible.

Segundo Kalignayan, 46, another hunger striker, admitted that they were hurting both physically and emotionally with the hisptalization of their colleague. “Masakit sa amin na ang isa naming kasamahan ay naospital, dahil kailangan naming ipagpatuloy ang aming hunger strike” (It pains me that one of us ws hospitalized, because we are forced to continue with our hunger strike.) Kalignayan is President of Samahang Nagkakaisang Mangyang Alangan (SANAMA, Inc.). He appealed to Atienza to take a closer look at their plight saying “Maawa namam po kayo sa mga katutubo, pato na rin sa lahat ng mga taga-Mindoro. Naniniwala kami na hindi akma ang pagmimina sa inyong mga lupain” (Please have mercy on our indigenous friends, and all the people of Mindoro. We all believe that mining is not good for us and for our lands).

Meanwhile, farmer-leader Nick Tumaca, 49, expressed mixed feelings with their situation. “Hindi lang lungkot pati awa sa laki ng sakripisyo na ginagawa ng mga strikers. Talagang natatakot din ako dahil lumalapit kami sa punto na baka may mamatay sa amin.” (Not only distressed, I also feel pitiful for all of us hunger strikers. I am also starting to be afraid as we are nearing that point where someone from us might die), he added. He is concerned that it is possible that their numbers may dwindle in the coming days, and that their strength physically and emotionally will continue to decline. He demanded from Atienza to sincerely talk with them and listen to their demands, and to stop punishing the hunger-strikers by delaying the cancellation of the ECC of Intex. Tumaca is a rice-farmer in Oriental Oriental Mindoro. He is the Chairman of Samahang Lakas ng mga Mangignisda at Magsasak sa Lalawigan ng Silangan Mindoro (SALAKMMA).

Supporters of the hunger strike challenged Atienza to leave up to his claims of being a “pro-life” leader. Jonjon Sarmiento from ALAMIN said that the treat of death faces each and everyone of the hunger strikers, and that Atienza must act decisively on the ECC cancellation as soon as possible. Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN) was established in 1999 to consolidate opposition to the Mindoro Nickel Project. The alliance has conducted numerous local and national mobilizations and International campaigns were also done in Europe.

The group in hunger strike, together with the local government officials of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Catholic Church leaders, civil society organizations and individuals from the communities affected the project calls for the immediate revocation of INTEX ECC and demand the DENR to respect the LGUs’ mining moratorium in their respective provinces.

The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an advocacy group and a people’s movement that upholds the rights of the present and future Filipinos against the persisting injustices related to mining. ATM is an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups of NGOs/POs and other civil society organizations convened by HARIBON, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/FOEI) and PhilDHRRA. —(30)


For more information:
Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, ALAMIN, (0919) 8005595, edugariguez@gmail.com, http://earthjedi.blogspot.com/
Jeff Rafa, ALAMIN (0918) 9443561 / Jaybee Garganera, ATM Coordinator, (0915) 315.37.19
Jonjon Sarmiento, ALAMIN (0926) 230.32.05
Roslyn Arayata, ATM Policy Officer (0917) 521.7937

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by Alcuin Papa and Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 20 2009 page A2

SOME 25 HUNGER STRIKERS, most of them members of the Mangyan tribe, vowed yesterday to continue their protest in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office in Quezon City to press for the cancellation of a big mining project on Mindoro island.

Fr. Edu Gariguez of Mangyan Mission, one of the strikers, said the participants, 16 of them Mangyans, decided on Wednesday evening to continue with their hunger strike even after Environment Secretary Lito Atienza suspended earlier that aternoon the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) that was issued to Norwegian mining firm Intex Resources on October 14.

Jubilation fades

Gariguez said their jubilation over the suspension faded after they studied Atienza's order.

“The suspension only covers 90 days. We want the project cancelled. It also gives Intex the opportunity to submit the documents needed. It left the decision for the continuation of the project in the hands of the DENR. It might still decide in favor of Intex. So this is not yet finished,” Gariguez told reporters.

Atienza had ordered the suspension of Intex's ECC for 90 days during which time the mining firm was directed to submit documentation that it conducted public consultations on the project.

Gariguez said “no meaningful public consultations” on the project occurred.

“We want a cancellation of the project. It is clear Mindoro residents are opposed to the project. It did not go through the proper process,” said Nick Tumaca, a farmer leader.

Lives at stake

Mangyan leader Badang Isidro said members of her tribe “would die if the ECC is given. We will lose our lives, our livelihood. As Mangyans, we value nature and the environment.”

Gariguez showed reporters the results of a recent study conducted by a seven-man Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee (EIARC) of the Mindoro Nickel Project.

Intex said it was still keen on continuing with the project even after its ECC was suspended.

“First of all, we're not yet mining the site. We're studying it. There might be a misconception that we are already mining,” said Jake foronda, Intex's Mindoro nickel project manager.

Foronda said Intex still aimed to complete its feasibility study on the project. “We expect the feasibility studyt to be finished around February,” he added.

He told the Inquirer that Intex went through the process of consultations and getting the necessary permits to study the potential mine site.

Contrary to the claim of local residents, he said the site did not sit on a critical watershed.

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INQUIRER.net
First Posted 20:52:00 11/18/2009

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20091118-237059/25-Mindoro-hunger-strikers-not-going-home-yet


MANILA, Philippines—The 25 hunger strikers from Mindoro are not going home just yet.
This despite the order made by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza Wednesday suspending the environmental clearance he issued to Intex Resources to mine 11,216.6 hectares of land in Mindoro, the Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN, Alliance Against Mining) said.

Some critical agreements made during the dialogue with Atienza were not contained in the order the former Manila mayor issued after meeting with protesters, the alliance told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

For this reason, the hunger strike of 25 Mindoreños, mostly Mangyans, will continue, the alliance said.

Oriental Mindoro Vice Governor Estela Aceron said the local governments of Mindoro were stressing their opposition to large scale mining on the island.

“We are reiterating our position that mining is not welcome in Mindoro. We expect Secretary Atienza to respect this,” Aceron said.

Oriental Mindoro has passed a 25-year mining moratorium ordinance in 2002 prohibiting the entry of all large-scale mining in the province. In Occidental Mindoro, similar mining moratorium ordinances were passed by the municipal governments of Sablayan, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Looc and Lubang. Eight out of 11 municipalities in Occidental Mindoro passed a resolution against the mining project.

Aceron, who was with the group that met with Atienza Wednesday afternoon, said the environment chief was in effect admitting he issued the environmental compliance certificate to Intex although the Norwegian firm has yet to comply with all the requirements needed before the mining clearance could be issued.

“I’m disappointed that Secretary Atienza issued the ECC on October 14 even without the required documents at hand,” she said.

She said that during the dialogue Atienza expressed his dismay on learning that there was no prior consultation made with the local governments and the affected communities.

Aceron said that Atienza even agreed that a committee be formed—composed of environment officials and local government executives—to look into the issues raised during the dialogue.

But this is never contained in the order Atienza released later, she said.
“We are really disappointed with his order of suspension. We understand that he is resigning before filing his certificate of candidacy so we want an answer before he leaves the office,” she said.

Atienza has hinted at his comeback bid in Manila politics where he served as mayor from 1998 to 2007.

Local officials on the island of Mindoro had opposed the project saying their sentiments had been disregarded and the issuance of the ECC was “irregular” and violated a moratorium on mining on the island.

They also said it would displace around 20,000 members of indigenous tribes, affect the agricultural output and food security of the island and threaten conservation areas of the Philippine Tamaraw and tourist spots like the popular Puerto Galera beach.

Twenty-five members of indigenous tribes, priests and residents of the island started a hunger strike Tuesday to dramatize their opposition to the project. With Alcuin Papa, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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