Stand with the people of Kasibu! Stop criminalizing human rights defenders!

The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) stands in deep solidarity with the people of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. In defending their homeland against large-scale and open-pit mining operations, and wanton violation of human rights. The APCHRPP particularly condemns the violent dispersal of the barricades, series of illegal arrests, intimidation, detention and other forms of human rights violations committed by the Philippine National Police against the residents of Kasibu protecting their land, livelihood and the environment.

The North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC) intends to operate among the barangays of Pao, Kakidugen, Paquet, Dine, Catarawan, Siguem, Muta, and Biyoy, covering 4,456 hectares of rich and fertile land is disregarding the right of the people. Fearing that the mining operation will eventually destroy the environment, their livelihood and their ancestral land. The residents of Kasibu in an act of defiance have set-up a community barricade since May to show resistance against mining operations.

At the barricade, the PNP arrived to serve and enforce a writ of preliminary injunction, meaning a court order forcing the residents to dismantle their barricade. But the residents have continued to stand firm, pointing to PNP’s actions and the Marcos Jr. government’s partiality in protecting big mining interests instead of the right to land, livelihood and well-being of the people of Kasibu.

“It is deeply disturbing that the pattern of interference by the PNP among anti-mining community barricades has only caused unjust arrests, injuries, and other human rights violations,” said Sister Patricia Fox, APCHRP Spokesperson.

“Instead of fulfilling their mandate to ‘serve and protect’, the PNP has always been at the side of mining corporations and has used its authority to enforce mining interests to plunder the country’s resources, stop the community’s resistance and destroy the environment,” Sister Pat added.

“When should the Marcos Jr. government realize that for as long as widespread poverty, landlessness, contractualization of workers, low wages remains and it worsens the already deplorable condition of people in the communities? For as long as his government continues his fascist attacks disregarding legitimate demands of the people to protect their ancestral land, livelihood and well-being, and for as long as the cause of social unrest remains untouched, Filipino people’s resistance will continue,” she concluded.

APCHRP reiterates that defending life and the environment is not a crime. President Marcos Jr. and the PNP must be held accountable for intensifying the plunder of the country’s resources and the prevalent state of impunity, serving the interest of foreign and big mining corporations and landlords, while neglecting the dignity and well-being of ordinary Filipinos.

APCHRP remains committed to strengthen and build broader support for the Filipino People’s struggle for land, rights, and just and lasting peace. ###

For reference:
Sister Patricia Fox
APCHRP Spokesperson