DIDIPIO GOLD-COPPER PROJECT: FAR FROM A DONE DEAL

URGENT ALERT
26 March 2008

DIDIPIO GOLD-COPPER PROJECT: FAR FROM A DONE DEAL
(Demolition of houses in Didipio continues)

Blood spilled on Black Saturday

Residents now fear for their lives as one community member (Emilio Pumihic) was shot and hospitalised when he tried together with other neighbours to prevent a team of demolition crew from demolishing the house of Samuel Bidang who was then taking a nap inside. Accounts from witnesses said that Pumihic was restrained by two security personnel of OceanaGold and was then shot from behind by another security guard (Whitney Dongiahon). (related article available at-http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080324-126059/Shooting-mars-Lent-in-mining-village).

Emilio Pumihic is a descendant of Juan Pumihic, the first Barangay Captain of Didipio and also one of the first families to settle in Didipio.

In another act to intimidate anti-mining officials and residents, OceanaGold and its cohorts in Didipio harassed Councilor Eduardo Ananayo at 10 o’clock in the evening also on Black Saturday. After attending a meeting in Sitio Dinauyan he was accosted by SPO4 Noel Valdez and brought to the Community Relations Office of OceanaGold without any valid reason t do so, SPO4 Valdez is a member of the Provincial Philippine National Police assigned in Didipio supposedly to keep peace and order in the community. Councilor Ananayo in his affidavit stated that he was slapped on the face by SPO4 Valdez when he introduced himself as one of the baranggay officials in Didipio.

These unfortunate events happened on Black Saturday (where Catholics all over the world observes a week of lent to reflect on the sacrifices and crucifixion of Jesus Christ). The people of Didipio last 17 March sought Bishop Villena’s intervention to ask OceanaGold not to resume demolition activities during the holy week in respect for the people in Didipio who wanted to reflect, pray and celebrate Jesus Christ’s salvation of mankind. The people of Didipio relayed this message through Sr. Eden Orlino, SPC of the Diocesan Social Action Commission who then responded to bring this request to the Bishop.

Sr. Eden’s appeal to the mining company thru Arnel Arrojo, Site Development manager of OceanaGold was not seriously considered since what happened on Black Saturday even Mr. Arrojo gave his word to Sr. Eden that they will accept the request of the people of Didipio to observe a peaceful holy week without any demolition activity. Much worse, 200 more demolition crew arrived on the same day and a shooting incident.

Bishop of Bayombong condemns OceanaGold

Bishop Ramon Villena of the Diocese of Bayombong declared OceanaGold’s acts in demolishing the houses of Indigenous Peoples in Didipio and the shooting of Emilio Pumihic as ‘atrocious’ and ‘monstrous’. He also add that it was made even worse by the mining company’s attempt to cover up for its human rights violations. (related article available at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080325-126399/Stop-Vizcaya-mining-bishop-asks-GMA).

Ramoncito Gozar, vice-president for communications and external affairs of OceanaGold on the other hand downplayed the shooting incident and tried to discredit and put the blame on the victim by saying that Emilio Pumihic was drunk at the time and tried to engage the security forces of OceanaGold. Police officials in Didipio, however, find Gozar’s version of the incident as “incredible”.

Breakdown of Law and Order

The Baranggay Council of Didipio with the present development and incidents now happening in the community is virtually non-existent or incapacitated to protect its constituents in the face of serious human rights violations being perpetrated by OceanaGold. The council has made several appeals to the mining company to settle first with the owners of houses and farmlands before they conduct demolitions activities but it seems this appeal fell on OceanaGold’s calloused and deaf ears.

OceanaGold showed its blatant disrespect to the public authority in Didipio for what they did to Councilor Edwardo Ananayo.

Arrogant mining company

OceanaGold’s order to its contractors to “demolish now, negotiate later” expresses utter disregard for due process of law and is highly insensitive to the well-being of the Indigenous Peoples community living in Didipio, even proudly invoking their so-called rights under the Mining Act of 1995.

We reiterate our call on all justice organisations, human rights and indigenous peoples advocates to extend support and solidarity to the Indigenous Peoples in Didipio. WE ASK YOU TO:

1. Be part of the Fact Finding Mission on 1-4 April 2008 in Didipio, to be spearheaded by LRC-KsK, Philrights, TFDP, Amnesty International, Alyansa Tigil Mina and to be joined by other foreign participants from Piplinks. You may contact LRC-KsK - +632 926 4409, TFDP National Office +632 437 8054, Alyansa Tigil Mina - +632 426 6740, Philrights - +632 433 1714;

2. Help the people of Didipio to defend themselves against the onslaught of OceanaGold and demand for the prosecution of the security guard who shot Emilio Pumihic;

3. Extend financial assistance for the legal defence fund, as the mining company will surely resort to take advantage of its huge resources to take the resisting community to the tedious and very expensive legal cases in courts, as what other mining affected communities are experiencing now and even before;

4. Increase awareness and disseminate information of the real situation in Didipio especially with OceanaGold investors and shareholders.
5. We call on all justice and human rights advocates and organizations to join hands with us in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Didipio in Nueva Viscaya, Philippines. Let us call to IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE and ACT on the shooting of Emilio Pumihic and STOP THE VIOLENCE in DIDIPIO! Let us call on OceanaGold mining company to RESPECT Indigenous and Peoples RIGHTS and to abide, observe and practice good business etiquettes and standards. Write URGENT LETTER of CONCERN to the following:


1. H. E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Tel: +632.564.1451 to 80
Fax:+632.742.1642/929.3968
Cell: +63.919.898.4622 / +63.917.839.8462
Email: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

2. Hon. Purificacion V. Quisumbing
Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Blg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City,Philippines
Tel: 928.5655/926.6188
Fax: +632.929.0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com

3. Sec. Jose L. Atienza Jr
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Central Office, Visayas Avenue
Diliman, 1100, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: 928.06.91 to 93 loc. 2003, 2008
Email: osec@dem.gov.ph


4. OcenaGold Corporation
a. Australia
Stephen Orr – Chief Executive Officer
Corporate Office
Level 5, 250 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61.3.9656.5300
Fax: +61.3.9656.5333

b. Australia
James E. Askew-Chairman
Corporate Office
Level 5, 250 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61.3.9656.5300
Fax: +61.3.9656.5333

c. Philippines
Jose P. Leviste
2nd Floor, CJV Building
108 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village
1229 Makati City, Philippines
Tel: +6.32.8926643
Fax: +6.32.892.8399