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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on June 20, 2010

Indigenous and green groups jubilant over open pit mining ban
By Erwin B. Quinones of LRC⁄KsK–FoE Phils

Koronadal City (June 20, 2010) — Various groups including indigenous communities lauded the Provincial Board of South Cotabato for banning open pit mining in the province as stipulated in the newly passed environment code of the province.

"Nalipay kami nga ginabawal na ang open pit mining sa prubinsya (We are happy that open-pit mining is now banned in the province )," said Daguil Capion, a B'laan leader of Datal Biao community in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Capion has been leading his fellow B'laans in opposing Swiss–owned SMI–XsTRATA's Tampakan Copper Gold Project in the tri-boundary of South Cotabato, Davao Del Sur and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Capion also criticized the company for bringing his fellow B'laans to a rally in Koronadal City to oppose the passage of the new environment code but neglected them afterwards.

"Naluoy ko sa akong mga paryente kay nagbaktas lang sila pauli ug gipang gutom, mga alas dose na sa gabii sila nakaabot sa Datal Biao. Ako na lang sila gipakaon ug gipakape (I pity my relatives who walked to their homes, had to nothing to eat, and arrived at around midnight here in Datal Biao. I offered them food and coffee)," added Capion.

"The Environmental Code is a landmark legacy of the present Provincial Board of South Cotabato and at the same time a victory of the people in Region 12," said spokesperson Sr. Susan Bolanio, OND of SOCSKSARGEN CAN (Climate Action Now).

"The banning of open pit mining is a milestone in the 15–year people's campaign against the Tampakan copper–gold project or what was then known as the Columbio FTAA," said Jean Marie Ferraris of the Legal Rights and Natural Center (LRC–KsK⁄FoE Phils).

Ferraris added that the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan "have courageously exercised their right to say no to large–scale mining that would only jeopardize the welfare of their constituents in the province."

Bolanio however warns that the struggle isn't over yet, saying that "there are powers that be who will work hard to challenge and block the open pit mining ban provision of the code".

Tribute to Fulong Binuhay Masalon
Meanwhile, B'laan communities in Malungon, Sarangani Province were deeply saddened by the death of Fulong Binuhay Masalon, the tribal chieftain of Barangay B'laan.

Masalon has led his people in fighting against the entry of SMI–Xstrata in their ancestral domain. Before he died, the tribal chieftain told his people to continue defending their land.

"We will never allow SMI–Xtrata to destroy our lives and livelihoods," said one of the leaders in the community.

END