Jordan Manda's father, Timuay Locencio Manda, is the chieftain of a tribal community in (Zamboanga del Sur). Gunmen attacked him and his son on the way to school. AsiaNews sources slam the abuses of a Canadian multinational, Toronto Ventures Incorporated (TVI). With the complicity of local politicians, it is holding on to land unlawfully taken from tribal people using a private army made up of ex soldiers.

Zamboanga (AsiaNews) - "Mining is a war that involves politicians, the central government and foreign multinationals," sources in Zamboanga del Sur told AsiaNews. "Living in total poverty, tribal people are the only victims, defenceless spectators to the seizure of their land." An example of this war occurred recently when gunmen in the southern Filipino region killed Jordan Manda, the 11-year-old son of Timuay Locencio Manda, a local tribal chieftain in Subaden. The two were ambushed as the father was taking his children to school. Armed men drove up to their car and fired, killing the boy and wounding the father.

Human rights groups believe the attack against the tribal leader was designed to punish him for his campaign against mining. Recently, the government granted three new concessions in Zamboanga. Activists instead want a moratorium on all mining in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Sources told AsiaNews that problems began when an important Canadian mining company, Toronto Ventures Incorporated (TVI), arrived in the area in 1997.

"With the administration of President Gloria Majapagal Arroyo on its side, TVI took over Pinukis Range Forest, expelling tribal residents. It also set a private army, the Blue Guard, made up of former soldiers and other shady characters. This way, tribals pay twice for the presence of a foreign multinational on its territory."

With the backing of local politicians, the company has tried to undermine local, small-scale, indigenously-run mining. At the same time, it has polluted land, water and air with mercury and cyanide, making farming and animal husbandry impossible.

Last year, TVI was forced out of the region but left its private army, which is not allowing others to do exploration work on its land.

"Many miners have gone back to the mountains but they face huge obstacles in starting up their activity again," sources say. Missionaries help them and some young people bring them food, gas and tools on motorcycle.

In July, four young men were stopped by a Blue Guard patrol. One was killed, the other three disappeared. Locals are afraid they might have been thrown into cyanide tanks.

With the election of Benigno Aquino as president, the Canadian company's behaviour was ruled illegal. Under Filipino law, tribal peoples have priority in mining.

Foreign companies that want to invest in the sector must present their plans to tribal chiefs and local administrations, and must be approved by a majority of residents. Locals can thus oppose outside projects and stake their own claim to the land. However, if that is not done, foreign companies can de facto acquire the land.

In league with multinationals, local politicians have made it hard for locals to stake their claim, threatening and sometimes killing people who help tribals.

Local officials also have no interest in working with indigenous people because the latter are very poor and have no money to pay bribes to earn the right to use the land. This favours multinationals.

In 2008, at Lakewood (Zamboanga del Sur), tribals did find Japanese and Chinese investors willing to put up money and equipment in exchange of 40 per cent of earnings. Some political leaders in Manila backed to initiative, setting up a company jointly owned by miners and Chinese investors. However, local authorities have not yet signed the permits needed to start operations.

Several times, the Church has been accused of funding small indigenous cooperatives with "millions from abroad". Some priests have received death threats and continue to be subject to pressures.

"In a few months, an election will take place," sources said. "The post of provincial governor is up for grabs and the outcome revolves around the mine. Candidates take advantage of tribals' problems to gain votes, but once in power they turn their backs on them becaues it is more convenient to support foreign companies."

In recent years, 36 activists have died or disappeared as a result of their work on behalf of tribal rights. They include Fr Fausto Tentorio, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, killed on 17 October 2011, in Arakan, North Cotabato province (Mindanao). (S.C.)

• philippines
• zamboanga
• mining
• tribals
• tvi