NEWS

By Louise Maureen Simeon

MANILA, Philippines — The Regional Trial Court of Nueva Vizcaya has denied the petition for injunction filed by Australian mining firm OceanaGold against the orders stopping its mine operations.

The court’s decision came on the eve of a national solidarity mission organized by environmental groups that sought to probe the threats and intimidation, lack of social acceptability, and other human rights violations involving the local unit of OceanaGold.

“The court’s rejection of OceanaGold’s attempt to impede citizen action against their illegal mining operation is a victory for the people,” Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment national coordinator Leon Dulce said.

“We now monitor the situation at ground level to ensure that the people’s barricade to enforce the restraint of OceanaGold is not subjected to any untoward reaction from the mine company,” he said.

The NSM will look into reported cases of intimidation and threats of harm and dispersal since OceanaGold initiated its petition for a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction.

It will also gather testimonies on the lack of public consultation and participation, especially free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous communities, as well as lack of other regulatory requirements, amid the railroading of OceanaGold’s FTAA renewal application.

“The court decision proves that it has been operating illegally without a contract agreement since June 20. We are considering filing charges if we gather sufficient evidence of its violations of the provincial government’s restraining order and the court’s affirmation of this order,” Dulce said.

OceanaGold continued its operations despite the expiration of its FTAA last June 20 amid the approval of the Mines and Sciences Bureau following the submission of its renewal application.

Source: PhilStar Global