Press Release

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center

September 14, 2010

Justice to all victims of human rights violations and anti-mining martyrs!

Resisting communities, advocates and activists troop the first day of the Mining Conference 2010 organized by the Chamber of Mines in Manila Hotel, Manila today to demand justice to all human rights violations and mining-related extra-judicial killings. 

Aside from the negative environmental and social impacts that communities have to bear due to mining, a list of martyrs in the struggle against mining is growing fast.

According to Judy Pasimio, Executive Director of LRC-KsK, “When we held an action last year during the Mining Conference 2009 in front of Sofitel Hotel in Manila, we were still with our colleague Gensun Agustin, who came from Cagayan. Today, he is no longer with us as he was brutally killed early this year.”

The killing of Gensun Agustin adds to the list of anti-mining activists who have cold-bloodedly executed because of their convictions in protecting their communities and environment. The list includes Sibuyan Councilor Armin Marin who was gunned down by a mining company security guard in 2007 while leading a rally of Sibuyanons, Eliezer “Boy” Billanes who opposed the Tampakan Gold-Copper project of Xtrata, Conrado Buenaflor of Buguey, Cagayan who was gunned down in front of his house, and Ricardo Ganad of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro who as President of the Association of Barangay Captains advocated against the Mindoro Nickel Project of Intex Resources.

“These are not isolated, unrelated and coincidental cases. These are individuals whom we have known and worked with in the struggle against mining and they have been killed one by one as the government continues to promote mining by opening up lands for mineral extraction and facilitating entry of corporations despite clear opposition by communities, civil society and local government units.” Pasimio adds.

The Chamber of Mines Philippines through the Mining Conference 2010 will showcase ‘best practices’ and ‘exemplary’ initiatives of mining companies, as well as lunch its manual on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), its latest attempt to define and operationalize “responsibile mining”.

“Is this what CSR and ‘responsible mining’ mean? If we map-out these killings, it will only lead us to the conclusion that almost every mining affected community all over the country already have martyrs, not to mention the numerous human rights violations and environmental degradation that they are also bearing. When will this stop? When all the kilometer post all over the country will be replaced by monuments of environmental martyrs?” Pasimio asserts.

“This has to stop immediately. We call on the new administration of P-Noy to heed the call for justice to all mining-related human rights violations and extrajudicial killings, and uphold the protection and fulfilment of human rights that millions of Filipinos have entrusted upon his leadership. Walang puwang sa matuwid na daan paglapastangan sa karapatang pantao, lalu na ang karapatang mabuhay.” Pasimio concludes.

For more information please contact Judy Pasimio, LRC-KsK, at +632 928-1372 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it