Case against Placer Dome (now Barrick Gold) may be last major chance to seek justice - MaCEC

Malalaking minahan, walang habas sa pag-abuso sa batas —grupo

March 12, 2014

Malayang sumusuway sa batas ang mga malalaking kumpanya sa pagmimina sa bansa dahil hindi sila napaparusahan sa kanilang ginagawang paglabag sa batas sa pagmimina, ayon sa grupong Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM).
 
Dahil dito, nagtitipon-tipon nitong Miyerkules sa harap ng mga tanggapan ng Philex, Nickel Asia, Sagittarius Mines at Barrick Gold ang ATM, kasama ang daan-daang mga taga-suporta ng grupo, upang tuligsain ang umano'y walang pakundangang paglabag ng dambuhalang mining firms sa mga batas ng bansa.

Ayon sa ATM, isang koalisyon ng mahigit 100 organisasyon at bahagi sa kampanyang TAO MUNA, HINDI MINA, ang mga kumpanyang ito, batay sa karanasan ng mga apektadong komunidad at ayon na rin sa mga pag-aaral, inuubos ng mga ito ang miniral reserves ng bansa at wala silang pakialam sa kapaligiran at sa mga mamamayan.
 
"Marcopper, Philex, Nickel Asia, Sagittarius Mines and Barrick Gold mining corporations are linked to and responsible for tragedies, repression and violence in the areas where they operate. For 19 years under the Mining Act of 1995, we have witnessed outbreaks of violent attacks in mining affected communities in many mining-affected communities in Marinduque, Benguet, South Cotabato and Eastern Samar," ayon kay Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator.
 
"The government has done little to investigate and prosecute those responsible. Not only did these mining companies damage the environment but they also violate people’s human rights. Community leaders have been threatened. Trumped up criminal charges ('criminalization of human rights defenders') have been laid against a number of community leaders," dagdag pa niya.
 
“In the case of Marcopper, Marinduqueños are convinced the case we filed against Placer Dome Inc. (now Barrick Gold) at a US court on October 4, 2005, is probably the last major chance to seek justice. For 30 years, they have operated in the island with seeming impunity, as to have damaged the Calancan Bay with mine tailings.” ayon naman kay Beth Manggol, Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MaCEC). Read more on GMA Network