UNPO would like to share two reports on large-scale mining and its impacts on indigenous peoples. Two simultaneous solidarity & fact-finding missions were conducted in Mindanao on 17-19 November 2012. The missions consisted of numerous delegations from various regions within the Philippines, as well as from other countries representing local, national and international organizations.

Both missions reported major human rights violations as a result of the large-scale mining activities exploited by the companies San Cristo Mineral Exploration Corporation, a local subsidiary of IndoPhil Mining and Xtrata-Saguitarrius Mining Inc.

First, the Peace and Solidarity Mission investigated the Tampakan massacre which took place on the 18th of October, 2012. The mission ascertained that Juvy Capion and her two sons were brutally murdered by 13 members of the 27th Infantry Battalion of the Philippines Army. On November 12, 2012, six days before the Tampakan massacre, the Justice for Capion Family Campaign was launched. The launching was attended by various organizations and individuals, primarily calling for justice for the Capion Family and activist vocal against large-scale mining interests.

The Peace and Solidarity Mission aimed to investigate further and gather additional facts about the Tampakan massacre and other human rights violations related to the operations of SMI-Xstrata, to express solidarity and sympathy to the family of the victims, and to provide psychosocial interventions and relief to the community.

Second, the International and Interfaith Solidarity Mission examined the mass evacuations of the Matigsalugs and Tigwahanons caused by the continuing militarization of San Fernando. The mission also investigated human rights violations, in particular three cases of extra-judicial killings namely the murders of Datu Jimmy Liguyon on 05 March 2012, Abundio Mantugohan on 11 January 2012, and Datu Erning Mantugohan on 10 October 2012.

The main objectives of the International and Interfaith Solidarity Mission, were mainly to gather further information on the circumstances surrounding the mass evacuation of the Matigsalog and Tigwahanon indigenous peoples, to document human rights abuses perpetrated by the military and other State security forces, and to express solidarity and support to the Matigsalogs and Tigwahanons in defense of ancestral land, for justice against human rights abuses and internal displacement.

The full version of the two reports [the Peace and Solidarity Mission Report and the International and Interfaith Solidarity Mission Report] can be downloaded from the column to the right of this page.