A statement signed by Bandilang Itim.
In solidarity with the people of Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya in asserting their right to a balanced and healthful ecology, ATM, Kalikasan PNE, LRC-KsK/FoE Philippines, and MiningWatch Canada, as well as other national and international groups, condemn the violent dispersal of members of an indigenous community lawfully barricading the large-scale mining operations of Canadian-Australian OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI), in Didipio.
On 6 April 2020, a 100-strong team of regional police escorted three diesel tankers and tried to enter the OceanGold mining site, on the strength of a letter by executive secretary Salvador Medialdea authorizing the entry of the tankers. The diesel was said to be going to be used to drain water seeping into the mining tunnels of OceanaGold’s suspended operations.
Some 29 members of an Ifugao indigenous community long opposed to mining barred the entry of the tanker as it violated the suspension order against OceanaGold. Operations have been suspended following the expiration of OceanaGold’s operating permit on 20 June 2019.
After nine months of peacefully blockading the mine without police interference, on this day the community was overwhelmed by the large police force, and a violent dispersal ensued, which included the beating and arrest of community leader Rolando Pulido.
This dispersal contravened the right of the community to assembly and violated local and court orders that have suspended the operations of OceanaGold. The use of violence by the police to disperse a peaceful assembly of indigenous people is a reflection of the extraordinary latitude that the government has given to the mining industry.
What is even more disconcerting is that that this happened at a time when the country is trying to flatten the curve of corona virus infections. The blockaders were therefore following the guidelines provided to avoid the spread of COVID-19. OceanaGold’s interests shifted precious government manpower and resources away from that effort to support its business interests.
While many businesses not involved in providing essential goods have shut down operations, a large-scale mining company like OceanaGold wants to be an exception, all in the name of profit. Greed, indeed, does not sleep.
Extractive activities like mining are symptomatic of an economic order that commodifies nature for profit to the detriment of people who rely on a healthy environment for their food security and livelihood. This is worrying because environmentally destructive activities are known to play a role in the spread of infectious diseases.
The community’s barricade is a lawful expression of the indigenous peoples of Didipio, local governments, and solidarity groups in support of a local government order suspending OceanaGold’s operations. OceanaGold’s operations have depleted ground water and contaminated nearby rivers of Nueva Vizcaya and displaced countless families. The mine has sown division in the community. OceanaGold should not be surprised that many members of the community oppose the renewal (for another 25 years) of a mining project that has caused them strife and suffering.
In view of the above, we call on:
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The Office of the President to CANCEL the FTAA renewal application of OceanaGold with finality, on the basis of its atrocious environmental and human rights record.
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The Philippine Commission on Human Rights to investigate this violent dispersal in the context of longstanding violations of OceanaGold;
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to issue a cease-and-desist order to Oceana Gold, to suspend their illegal operations.
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The Department of Interior and Local Government to investigate on the conduct of members of the police from Region 2, Quirino Province and from the Municipality of Kasibu, and to look into violations of quarantine measures by OceanaGold itself.
In solidarity,
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11.11.11 Coalition of Belgian North South Movement
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350 Pilipinas
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350.org Japan
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Academia Cidadã – Citizenship Academy
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AfrosRD
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Aid/Watch
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AID/WATCH (Australia)
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Akbayan and Gamma Epsilon Int’l Fraternity/Sorority Zeta Chapter
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AKBAYOUTH
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Alab Katipunan
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Alyansa Tigil Mina
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Amherst College, USA
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Amigos da Terra Brasil
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Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y el Caribe – ATALC
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Amigos de la Tierra Argentina
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AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant Women
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Anakbayan Ottawa
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Anakbayan Ottawa
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Andrew Lees Trust (ALT UK)
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Art Atak
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Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development
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Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
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Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development
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Asociación ambiental e cultural Petón do Lobo
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ATALC
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Ateneo Human Rights Center
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Balkan Energy and Forest Trends, Serbia
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Bandilang Itim
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Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
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Bangladesh Krishok Federation
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Bangladesh Krishok Federation
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Beyond Extraction
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Bloque Latinoamericano Berlín
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Both ENDS, Netherlands
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Buliisa Initiative for Rural Development Organisation (BIRUDO)
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Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (UK)
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CANADA-PHILIPPINES SOLIDARITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
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CCFD-Terre Solidaire
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CCMCL BAYWATCH FOUNDATION
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CENSAT Agua VIva Colombia
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Centar za zivotnu sredinu/ Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines
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Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
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Centre for Environmental Justice/ Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka
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Centre for Human Rights and Development
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Centre for Human Rights and Development
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Centre for Indigenous Conservation and Development Alternatives (CICADA), McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur
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Centre for Transparence and Freedom of Information
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Citizens Advice Barking and Dagenham
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Civil Expertise
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Clarion
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Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN)
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COECOCEIBA – Amigos de la Tierra Costa Rica
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Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ)
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Community Resource Centre Foundation
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Consumers Association of Penang, Malaysia
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Convergence of Initiatives for Environmental Justice, Inc.
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Damayan BC
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Damian Law Offices
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Defenders Protection Initiative
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Department of Education
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Dhaatri Trust
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Digo Bikas Institute
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Division Federation of Supreme Students Government of Nueva Vizcaya
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Earthworks
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Eath Thrive
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Eco-Justice Unit, Diocese of New Westminster
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EnergyTransparency Assosiation
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Environics Trust
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European Network on Indigenous Peoples (ENIP)
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Familie
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Finnish Asiatic Society
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Focus on the Global South
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Forest Foundation
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Forest Foundation Philippines
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Forest Peoples Programme
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FORPA Forest Protection Allies
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FRENDS
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Fresh Eyes, UK
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Friends of the Earth Australia
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Friends of the Earth Europe
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Friends of the Earth International
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Friends of the Earth Japan
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Friends of the Earth Netherlands / Milieudefensie
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Friends of the Earth US
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Friends of the Siberian Forests, Russia
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Fundacja “Rozwój TAK – Odkrywki NIE” (Poland)
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Gender, Commications, Global Mobility Studies Unit NDU Lebanon
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Global Extractivisms and Alternatives Initiative ( EXALT)
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Global Forest Coalition
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IBON Foundation
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ICCA Consortium
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Igapo Project
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Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
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Individual
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Innabuyog Gabriela
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Institute for Ecology and Action Anthropology, Germany
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Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project
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International Accountability Project
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International Association of People’s Lawyers
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International IPMSDL
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Isabela State University
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ISRDS
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IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands
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IWGIA
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Kalikasan-PNE
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Karapatab Negros
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Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
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Knights of Columbus/ Indigenous People
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Korea Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM)
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KRuHA Indonesia
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Kurawal Foundation, Jakarta
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KWCHRP
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Limerick Area Conservation Coalition
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London Mining Network
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London Mining Network
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LRC
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Malach Consulting
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Malaya-USA, Indiana University
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Marea Roja Argentina
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Marian Supreme Government
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MENSCHENRECHTE 3000 e.V, Germany
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Migrante Australia of New South Wales
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Migrante Canada
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Mines Minerals & RIGHTS former Editor
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Mines, Minerals & People
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Mining Injustice Solidarity Network
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Mining Watch Canada
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Mongolian Women’s Employment Supporting Federation
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Mongolian women’s fund
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Mongolian Women’s Fund
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Mouvement Ecologoque FoE Lux
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Myanmar Environmental Legal Services (MELS)
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Myanmar Environmental Legal Services (MELS)
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National Secretariat of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (ECIP-NS)
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NDU
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Nepal Integrated Development Initiatives (NIDI), Nepal
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NGO Forum on ADB
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Nilad Environment Network
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NOAH – Friends of the Earth Denmark
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NTFP EP Philippines
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NTFP-EP Asia
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NTFP-EP India
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NTFP-EP Indonesia
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NTFP-EP Malaysia
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NTFP-EP Vietnam/SIE
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Nueva Vizcaya Youth Leaders Network
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Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization Public Union
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On behalf of Development Studies, University of Helsinki
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Oxfam
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Oyu Tolgoi Watch
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Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC)
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Parish Youth Ministry
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PASA
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Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.
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Philippines Australia Solidarity Association
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PowerShift e.V.
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PROCESS Foundation Panay, Inc
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Professor ( retired) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)
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Publish What You Pay
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Publish What You Pay Australia
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PWYP
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PWYP Azerbaijan
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PYM
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Red Cross Youth
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REDES-Friends of the Earth Uruguay
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RwB
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia)
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Salva la Selva
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Salvemos las Villuercas
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Save Our Sky Blue Waters and Save Lake Superior Association
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Save Our Sperrins (SOS), IRELAND
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SIBUYAN AGAINS MINING
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SK
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Sk secretary of Bone South Aritao Nueva Vizcaya And Vice President Of Kabataan Kilos Kontra Droga At Terorismo
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Solidariedade Moçambique
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Spirit of Eureka South Australia
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Stiftung Asienhaus
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Sulong UBC
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Supreme Student Government
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Tanggapang Panligal ng Katutubong Pilipino (PANLIPI)
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Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
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Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
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The Development Institute
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The Free West Papua Campaign
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The Gaia Foundation
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The Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth-Georgia
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The Yemeni Organization for Economic and Social Development
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TKPT-Jatam
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Tuklas Pilipinas Society
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Unifying Sectoral Responses on Environmental Protocols in Sibonga (USREPS)
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United Church of Canada
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Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Institute for Advanced Study, USA
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UNLAD-BLFFA
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URGEWALD
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vzw Climaxi
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Water JUSTICE AND GENDER
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Witness Radio Organisation – Uganda
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WomanHealth Philippines
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WomanHealth Philippines
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WWF-Philippines
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Youth For Environment Education And Development Foundation (YFEED Foundation), Nepal
Timeline of Events leading to the Violent Dispersal
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June 20, 2019
OceanaGold’s permit to mine expires. No activity may be conducted by the company. President Duterte, the only person who can authorize a permit, has not granted a renewal of the mine’s permit.
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June 20, 2019
Acting on the permit expiry, Nueva Vizcaya governor Carlos Padilla came out with an advisory enjoining the company to suspend its operations.
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June 25, 2019
Governor Padilla files an Executive Order ordering the provincial police, the provincial environment office, and the municipal and barangay (village) governments to enforce the suspension of mining operations.
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July 1, 2019 up to the present
With overwhelming support from government institutions (from the barangay, provincial, and congressional levels) and people’s organizations and solidarity groups, the local government and the community mount a people’s barricade (that continues to this day) to enforce the executive order.
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July 2019
OceanaGold files petitions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the local government, both of which were turned down by the Regional Trial Court of Nueva Vizcaya. These court decisions reinforce the legality of the executive order of the provincial government to suspend Oceana’s operations.
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January 21, 2020
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea sends a letter to DENR secretary Roy Cimatu granting authority to the mining company to bring fuel into the mine site, supposedly for dewatering activities of the mine’s project. This letter is cited by the PNP in its dispersal operation.
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April 6, 2020
Provincial and municipal police escort three fuel tankers and try to disperse the people’s barricade against OceanaGold’s mining site. Community leader Ronaldo Pulido is arrested.