Plunder and profit for big capitalist mining linked to killings of indigenous peoples

Plunder and profit for big capitalist mining linked to killings of indigenous peoples

ABIGAIL ANONGOS, Secretary General of Cordillera People’s Alliance, speaking on Nov. 7 at Ryerson University on Dundas St., Toronto

Interview with Abigail Anongos, Secretary General, Cordillera People’s Alliance

By 2014, at least 13 Canadian mines have secured permits to operate in the Philippines, covering at least 5 million hectares

By Hermie Garcia

The Philippine Reporter: Give us a brief description of Cordillera People’s Alliance, of which you are the Secretary General. What are its main objectives? Why a need for CPA in the Cordilleras?

Abigail Anongos: CPA is a federation of grassroots organizations among indigenous communities in the Cordillera, Philippines. It is committed to the promotion, defense of indigenous rights, human rights, social justice, national freedom and democracy. It envisions an autonomous Cordillera where indigenous peoples (IPs) exercise their rights to ancestral domain, self-determination, and create a just society within the framework of a truly sovereign, democratic nation.

TPR:What’s your mission in touring Canada?

AA: My engagements (Toronto and Ottawa) were in the context of strengthening and deepening partnerships with the Anglican Church, United Church of Canada, solidarity and advocacy groups, and compatriots herein. This visit also aimed to pursue efforts on raising awareness on the situation of IPs in the Cordillera and Philippines, and generate support for such, and follow through our efforts on building solidarity with IPs in this country.

TPR: Have you accomplished your mission? How did the Canadian groups and institutions respond to your message and appeal for help and solidarity?

AA: This visit built on our past engagements with partners and networks, and we definitely accomplished our purpose in this trip with the interest and commitment of the different organizations we engaged with, for support and solidarity with IPs of the Cordillera and Philippines.

TPR:About big mining operations and the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, can you explain the dynamics underlying the conflict that has grown into a national issue and maybe now an international issue?  What are at stake?

AA: We’ve heard of ‘conflict diamonds’. I’d say it is a case of ‘conflict resources’ in the Philippines, fueled by the impetus for plunder and profit of capitalist mining, fanned by a mining law that liberalized the Philippine mining industry (Mining Act of 1995) and government’s policy institutionalizing the State Armed Forces as investment defense force for the mining industry and justifying militarization of indigenous territories where most of the mineral claims are located. At stake are people’s human rights, indigenous peoples’ collective right to ancestral land and national patrimony and sovereignty.

TPR:The killings of the Lumad in Mindanao and also those in the Cordilleras and other indigenous peoples’ areas have been linked to big mining operations. Are there specific evidences and witnesses directly linking big foreign mining companies to human rights abuses in the Philippines? What are these?

AA: Many fact-finding missions and solidarity missions confirmed the link of killings of indigenous peoples to that of opposition to big extractive businesses, like mining. Reports by KATRIBU Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, KARAPATAN Alliance for People’s Rights (http://karapatan.org) and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (http://kalikasan.net) have documented these.

Q & A after Anongos’s talk

TPR:    How extensive are big foreign mining operations in the Philippines? In terms of land involved and estimate of mining revenues? How are Canadian mining companies involved in the Philippines?

AA: Ten years ago, the Canadian extractive sector invested CAD $26.6 billion in foreign countries. At that time, the investments in the Philippines alone was US$1.26 billion for 13 mining companies[i]. By 2014, at least 13 Canadian mines have secured permits to operate in the Philippines, covering at least 5 million hectares[ii], and most of these are in Mindanao. In August 2014 alone, approved mining applications (Canadian and others) in indigenous territories covered 532,368.36 hectares (251 applications), affecting 39 indigenous groups[iii].

TPR:How has the resistance to these mining activities and human rights violations been? What’s going on in the grassroots level and international support with regard to fighting these big mining interests? What are the prospects of a major victory like the recent Obama rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline project?

(4 PHOTOS: HG)

AA: The people’s campaign against mining plunder through CPA (in general, not only against Canadian mines) has resulted in some victories, while there are continuing challenges, like new tactics of the company to cause disunity within the communities and tribes, use of goons and even the military to suppress community opposition, among others. Examples of victories include delay in expansion operations, a stop to the drilling, delay in exploration. Assertion of ancestral land rights and self-determination continues at the grassroots level, and the international community’s role in bringing these to global attention has been vital. Prospects for major victories will take some time, with substantial change in terms of policy—that is why CPA actively engages in policy advocacy as well for the repeal of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the passage of an alternative mining law that is pro-people and pro-environment.

TPR:    What brought you to this struggle? How did you start getting involved in these campaigns, organizing and mobilizing international support?

The audience who remained till end of forum with Abigail Anongos PHOTO: MG

AA: Writing about the people’s struggles, as a journalist. Chronicling stories of communities and persons — their strength, resilience, sorrows and challenges. More responsibilities and engagements eventually came in when I became part of the CPA regional secretariat in 2005, then as member of the executive committee in 2009. One can only grow into his or her work and keep learning.

TPR:    What is your message to Filipino Canadians and those overseas and Canadians on your struggle against big mining operations and for the Filipino indigenous peoples?

AA: Sa mga kababayan, kadagiti kakailian ditoy Canada—at the end of the day we only have one Inang Bayan, we only have one Cordillera homeland, one ili. I take this opportunity once more to reach out and appeal to you to stay connected to our people’s urgent issues at the homefront, have platforms to collectively discuss these as Filipino Canadians with the support of advocates to raise awareness on the issues of our people and determine possible actions to support our people’s aspirations for genuine change, genuine development and social justice.

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[i] The Canadian Quandary. http://pcij.org/stories/the-canadian-quandary/ . 2008

[ii] Philippine Platform for Indigenous Peoples Rights. Prelimary List of Extractive Industries in the Philippines. June 2014.

[iii] IP Report Under Pres. Aquino. April 2014. Prepared by KATRIBU Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas