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First Posted on Inside Mindanao: August 10, 2007

Press Release

ATM slams TVI for tailings spill in Zambo,
warns of another Marcopper in the making

The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) slammed TVI Pacific, a Canadian-owned firm operating a gold mining project in Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte over reports that its sulphide tailings dam had been breached.

"This was the same dam that they built last year despite opposition from the local residents because it isn't part of the 508 hectares covered by TVI's Mineral Production and Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the government," said ATM Coordinator Roy Calfoforo. "In fact, it is merely part of an application for expansion for another 4,500 hectares for TVI's operations."

ATM confirmed the report after receiving and verifying photo documents showing the sulphide tailings dam has been breached.

Timuay Boy Anoy, leader of the Subanon people whose sacred mountain Canatuan has been affected by TVI operations said that the MPSA was granted despite the absence of genuine consent among the indigenous peoples of the affected area. "And this expansion area has been rejected by the local residents, and there is no free, prior and informed consent as far as we are concerned," Anoy said.

"This only exposes the rhetoric of responsible mining that TVI flaunts," added Jo Villaneuva, Executive Director of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Inc. (LRC), a member of ATM. "Despite numerous and unrelenting efforts to brandish its Siocon operations as a model mining operation, it is instead proven to be violating proper environmental standards and putting the local communities at risk."

"We have received photo evidence that shows a portion of its tailings dam has indeed collapsed," added Calfoforo. "A previous collapse in April 2 had been ignored, despite reports coming out of the area years ago that TVI was not complying with safety procedures."

Anoy, whose legitimacy as the leader of the local Subanons had been attacked by TVI said the spill should now give government an occasion to recede TVI's license and expel the company from the site. "What we have here is a potential disaster that has not only destroyed livelihoods, but will render a portion of Zamboanga dead."

"It's another Marcopper in the making," Anoy warned.

"The economic benefits are more apparent than real when you take into consideration the potential damage that Siocon will ultimately have to pay for with TVI's continued irresponsible mining," added Charles Alferez, Executive Director of Diopim Committee on Mining Issues (DCMI), an NGO based in Dipolog City.

ATM is a coalition of NGOs/POs and other civil society groups concerned about the revitalization of large-scale mining company in the Philippines and support the Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Philippines.

END