The Peoples' Declaration Against Tvi And Other Aggressive Mining

THE PEOPLES’ DECLARATION AGAINST TVI AND OTHER AGGRESSIVE MINING

OPERATIONS IN THE ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA DURING THE FIRST MINING CONFERENCE

We, the 61 delegates who participated in this three-day conference from the places of Canatuan, Siocon, Labason, Sindangan, Tamarok, Leon B. Postigo, Jose Dalman and Manukan from the province of Zamboanga del Norte; also together with the delegates from Molave, Dumingag, Midsalip, Bayog and Pagadian City from the province of Zamboanga del Sur and with the delegates from R.T. Lim, Diplahan and the Prelature of Ipil of Zamboanga Sibugay, together with the following organizations like the Pigsalabukan Bansa Subanon, Freedom from Debt Coalition – Western Mindanao, Apu Manglang Glupa Pusaka, Pigsalabukan Gukom de Bayog and the Parish Pastoral Council of Jose Dalman, stood as one in our position and in principle to protect our individual communities from large scale and aggressive mining operations here in the Zamboanga Peninsula. In line with this, we strongly declare the following:

1. That the mining operations of Toronto Ventures, Inc. (TVI) resulted to:
a. Human Rights Violation
b. Destruction of Nature
c. Division of Communities
d. Deprivation from their livelihood of the indigenous peoples, the farmers and the fisher folks affected by mining operations
e. Eviction of peoples from their homes
f. Use of armed forces (Special Citizen Armed Auxiliary) in the employment of cruelty , maltreatment and abuse which resulted to sorrow, anxiety, crying and fear

So, we strongly appeal to the recent Arroyo administration to cancel all Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) of TVI in Canatuan, Siocon and all other MPSA/Financial Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) holders in the whole ZAMBOANGA Peninsula.

2. We are united in principle that the real essence of development stems from the need of the people to give utmost importance to life, the right of the indigenous peoples to their ancestral domain and the right of the ordinary people to utilize their local means of livelihood.

3. We strongly support the initiatives to prevent and stop TVI and other kinds of aggressive mining operations initiated by different organizations like:

a. Pigsalabukan Bansa Subanon (PBS)
b. Tamarok, and the whole municipality of Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte
c. Leon B. Postigo of Zamboanga del Norte
d. Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte
e. Save Siocon Paradise Movement (SSPM)
f. Bayog Parish Environmental Protection Task Force (SAM)
g. Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur
h. Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sut
i. Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur
j. Labason, Zamboanga del Norte (SAM)
k. Diplahan, and Prelature of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay
l. Apu Manglang Glupa Pusaka of Canatuan, Siocon
m. Sampoli, Zamboanga Sibugay
n. Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay

We further strengthened and affirmed our declaration by affixing below our signatures this 29th day of June, 2006 at the St. Augustine Parish, Jose Dalman,
Zamboanga Del Norte.

NAME ORGANIZATION/AREA SIGNATURE
1. Rudy Arpon SAC-Pagadian City
2. Leonila B. Belsa SAM-Bayog, Zamboanga Sur
3. Frank A. Mabulay AFUZS-Masipag
4. Julito D. Bohol Tamarok, Jose Dalman, Zambo. Norte
5. Basilia Y. Arcadio CPD-Dipolog City
6. Ricardo A. Toliño TUPUSUMI-Midsalip, Zambo. Sur
7. Raul Furigay Canatuan Farmers Association –Canatuan
8. Marlon Hingco DCMI-Dipolog City
9. Edgar Esperas P. Tubigon Poblacion, Jose Dalman, Zambo. Norte
10. Nitz Cabando DCMI- Dipolog City
11. Julieta B. Andang Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC)
12. Jose Wilmer B. Maglente Parish Social Action Team (PSAT)
13. Lucenio N. Manda Pigsalabukan Gukom de Bayog (PGB)
14. Fernando O. Lumido Kriska
15. Timuay Jose “Boy” Anoy Apu Manglang Glupa Pusaka
16. Jimmy Acope Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte
17. Jerry S. Espinas CYM/ CSO-FED
18. Arcelito D. Gose PCL-Sindangan, Zamboanga Del Norte
19. Dominador A. Fabillar PSAT-Leon Postigo, Zamboanga Del Norte
20. Rolly B. Romero Canatuan Farmers Association (CFA)
21. Floro K. Galves CFA-Canatuan
22. Manolita Galves CFA- Canatuan
23. Bocenerjes Pangasian Dapitan City
24. Bartolome Ocam PYM-Labason
25. Nora Q. Java Save Siocon Paradise Movement (SSPM)
26. Francisco A. Ligtas Earthlinks
27. Jonie Sora SBC Tribal Association
28. Glean Batucan PYA-Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur
29. Eugenio Pungo Jr. BAKID-Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur
30. Evelina A. Taguibola Sinuyak, Katipunan, Zamboanga Del Norte
31. Vicente G. Hosli
32. Gadio M. Belogoh OM. P.H.
33. Ropal Charlito FMPP/Faculty
34. Ruberto Alcoriza Tamarok, Jose Dalman, Zambo Norte
35. Abundio Sumanay Tamarok Jose Dalman, Zambo. Norte
36. Catalino B. Romo Jr. Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur
37. Fortunato G. Urot, Jr., FDC-Western Mindanao Region
38. Henry Antipuesto Tamarok, Jose Dalman, Zambo. Norte
39. Edwin Antipuesto Tamarok, Jose Dalman, Zambo. Norte
40. Butch Cabilan FDC-Western Mindanao Region
41. Felomino T. Ango Bgy Councilor, Tamarok, Jose Dalman Zamboanga del Norte
42. Boy Magalso Pigsalabukan Bansa Subanon (PBS)
43. Danilo Sauclom Pigsalabukan Gukom de Bayog (PGB)
44. Ricardo Manago SAM-Prelature of Ipil
45. Godofredo D. Galos Save Siocon Paradise Movement (SSPM)
46. Rev. Fr. Nemesio A. Sayon Parish Priest, Jose Dalman, Zambo. Norte
47. Tito Natividad Fiel Coordinator-DCMI
48. Cirila B. Lopez SSPM-Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte
49. Maria Angelita d. Bendijo DCMI
50. Cristina Albarico DCMI