MindaNews » More calls for mining moratorium aired amid “the most dangerous mines in the world”.

By Carolyn O. Arguillas, MindaNews
January 27, 2012

 DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/26 January) –  Against the backdrop of Mindanao hosting what experts refer to as “the most dangerous mines anywhere in the world” and “the biggest time bomb Mindanao has ever seen,”  participants to the International Conference of Mining in Mindanao are calling for a moratorium on mining activities.

Organized by the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) and the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (CEAP),  the two-day conference which started Thursday, gathered experts in the field of mining, local government officials, church leaders and other representatives from  civil society  but representatives of  mining operators in Mindanao – large-scale or small-scale – were conspicuously absent.

Fr. Joel Tabora, ADDU president, told a press conference Thursday noon: “It was deliberate we did not want them here in this conference.”

“We want to have an opportunity for people who are like minded to come together,  to converse with one another, to share expertise with one another so we can come to a deeper understanding of issues  which we  share,” he said, adding this does not mean they would not talk with miners like  Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) which he admitted sent him letters asking them to be invited.

But Tabora said, “I have told them over and over again (that) for this conference, you are not invited.  I think it is part of academic freedom to be able to pursue truth on our own agenda and I don’t think it has to be dictated by outside people.”

Apparently smarting from rejection by the organizers, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), Coalition for Responsible Mining in Mindanao (Coremin) and the Mindanao Business Council, held a media forum from 3 to 5 p.m. at the University of Southeastern Philippines, while the international conference was going on at the ADDU.

“Personally, I see that the mining establishment really has an agenda and often the agenda militates against people coming into deeper understanding of issues involved and this is what we we wanted to provide: an opportunity for them to listen to experts who have taken great pains to  know the issues,” Tabora said.

Tabora told MindaNews he cannot speak for the rest of the participants on the proposed time frame for the moratorium but stressed two important things that have to be addressed within that period, “however long it will take.” He referred to a national policy framework that will better protect the interests of the people and the environment” and that with the policy change, “we build the capability of the country to enforce the new policy.”

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