Aquino hit for ‘favoring investors over victims of large-scale mining’

Aquino hit for ‘favoring investors over victims of large-scale mining’
“Aquino shows no regard for the essential issue in the indigenous people’s struggle for the very life of their communities, their children, their way of life, their future,” Luis Jalandoni of the NDFP said, citing a petition filed by the Tribal Coalition of Mindanao et al before the Supreme Court on May 30 against the same mining companies, which were attacked by the NPA.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – The National Democratic Front of the Philippines lashed out at President Benigno S. Aquino III for acting “as if he is merely a caretaker of foreign corporations and local big compradors.”
On October 3, NPA guerrillas stormed three mining companies in Claver, Surigao del Norte, where they burned heavy equipment.

Aquino condemned the attacks and immediately ordered security officials to review operational procedures.
“No one should doubt our commitment to the safety of investors and our fellow citizens, who deserve to be able to pursue their livelihood without threats of extortion and violence to disturb them,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda also said the military and the police have implemented immediate actions to ensure the safety of mining companies in the country.

In reaction, Luis Jalandoni, NDFP peace panel chairman, said Aquino “thinks only in the narrow terms of favoring foreign investments, even if extremely exploitative.” “He is concerned only with providing military security for them.”

Jalandoni said Aquino completely misses the following points:

1. the extraction of nonrenewable resources such as mineral ores for export at dirt cheap prices kills Philippine prospects for industrialization,

2. the indigenous people are subjected to dispossession of land, mass dislocation and ruination of their lives and culture; and.... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/10/06/aquino-hit-for-%E2%80%98favoring-investors-over-victims-of-large-scale-mining%E2%80%99/