Philippines Update
Published by MAC on 2007-02-09
Philippines update
9th Feburary 2007
Objections to the February 8 permission to resume full operations at Lafayette's Rapu Rapu, granted on 8th February, dominate recent Philippines mining news - even while the debate continues to rage
Press coverage of the launch of the fact-finding report "Mining in the Philippines: Concerns and Conflicts", published by a mission led by former UK Minister for Development, Clare Short, continues to contradict the more optimistic announcements of the Philippine government on the future of mining.
There's been yet another alleged act of violence perpetrated by TVI's armed guards in Canatuan, which occurred just as the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was in Manila to gather updates on the current situation in the Philippines.
The local Bishop has confirmed the church's opposition to Indophil's Tampakan project.
The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has threatened to impose sanctions against Crew's local partner Apex Mining Corp., unless it complies with regulations.
Finally, two rebel groups (the Communist NPA and Muslim MILF) have both, in their own way. attacked mining projects within their sphere of influence (the latter verbally, the former literally).