Source: One Palawan Facebook Account

AS THEY JOIN the Earth Day activities today, victims organization Hustisya called to “remember those who have reunited with the earth,” as they cried for justice for slain environmental activists.

“While Earth Day is a venue to discuss and address environmental concerns, we should not forget the environmental activists who were killed because of their staunch advocacy to defend the environment from plunder and destruction,” Hustisya secretary general Cristina Guevarra said.

According to Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, there have been 39 victims of environment-related cases of extrajudicial killings, five of which were killed under Pres. Noynoy Aquino. Majority of the victims were actively campaigning against large-scale foreign-owned mining and logging in different parts of the country.

Not yet included in the list is the killing of Santos Manrique on April 12 in Compostela Valley. Manrique is an anti-mining activist who, along with small-scale miners and environmentalists, actively campaigned against the entry of large-scale foreign owned mining in the province.

“Environmental plunder will only bring destruction and displacement rather than development to poor communities. We should call for justice at the same time that we take up the issues that slain environmental activists have devoted their whole life to,” she said.

The group said it best to give the highest tribute to Dr. Leonard Co, Dr. Gerry Ortega, Jose “Pepe” Manegdeg, Armin Marin and other martyred environmental activists by continuing their call to stop the rape of our nation’s resources.

The human rights organization also stressed that the people should be made aware that the government’s anti-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan is not being implemented to bring in development to our communities. “It is an instrument to sow terror among the people who oppose these so-called development projects like large scale mining,”  Guevarra said. “It is for this reason that the culture of impunity continue to reign and that killings of environmental activists have persisted.”

Hustisya further explained the lies that Oplan Bayanihan intends to hide with its repackaged formula to win the people’s trust. “Anti-insurgency programs don’t bring in developments, it is under its name that large scale mining companies and big loggers can freely plunder our natural resources, even if it meant claiming the lives of those who dare stop them,” Guevarra continued.

Hustisya then challenged the Aquino government to hear the plight of thousands of Filipinos in danger of losing their homes, livelihood and lives due to environmental destruction and plunder.

“It is not enough to suspend applications of mining firms. The government should scrap the Mining Act of 1995 and other similar anti-people, anti-environment policies,” she said.

Press Release
April 19, 2011
Reference: Ma. Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya secretary general  0949-1772928

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