Amnesty International's Report On The Political Killings

Philippines Update

18th August 2006

As the Philippine government responds to Amnesty International's report on the political killings, an interview with the President published in the International Herald Tribune moves straight from her praising her officers' work to talking about the entry of Anglo American into the country. While no one is suggesting a direct link from Anglo American to the politically inspired assassinations, should the company continue to pursue plans in an area, notably Kalinga, where opponents to large-scale mining are being so ruthlessly eliminated? Lafayette continues to dominate the news on Philippine mining with the 30 day trial now stretching on, and Greenpeace mobilising both in cyberspace, on the streets and on the high seas to stop the project re-starting. Oxfam Australia's Mining Ombudsman also criticises the project in the Age. Elsewhere Bulatlat publishes a special focus on mining in Central Luzon (one of the worst areas currently for the political killings), and the Church once again clashes with mining companies, where a prayer rally against a mining project was forcibly dispersed, this time in Agusan del Norte in Mindanao. The people of Isabela celebrate after Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) withdraws its proposed coal mining project after a decade of struggle. Finally the British parliamentarian Clare Short visited the Philippines to investigate the problems of mining there, and has returned shocked by the extent of the problem. A report is being written on the fact-finding which should be published in September 2006.