Conference Press Release
25 March 2009
Delegates of the International Conference on Indigenous Peoples’ and Extractive Industries are set to submit on Saturday to officials of the United Nations, multi-lateral financial agencies and governments their position paper on how to address the plight of the Indigenous Peoples worldwide, including other measures that would mitigate the problems of climate change brought about by the indiscriminate extraction of natural resources.
In the three-day conference attended by 85 representatives from 37 countries, they are one in saying that the manner by which transnational mining companies undertake the extraction of oil, gas, gold and other mineral resources often tramples their basic human rights viz-a-viz the seemingly relaxed regulations imposed on them by the states.
“The faces of violence, the persecution of IPs, and the manner of incursion in our lands are the same worldwide, — from the continents of Africa to Asia as far as extractive industries are concerned, not to mention the environmental destructions they caused,” the world indigenous peoples said.
UN representatives, including those from the World Bank and other multi-lateral financial institutions are also expected to arrive tomorrow for a separate expert workshop, which also caps the three-day affair of the IP delegates. Government representatives from Bolivia, the Philippines, Ecuador and Norway are also expected to participate.
Conference organizer Tebtebba, said they expect a positive response from these institutions, expressing hopes that future endeavors to address these problems will be in accordance to the highest standard set forth under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and on corporate accountability. The UNDRIP is the latest international agreement adopted by the UN General Assembly and signed by 143 countries in September 13, 2007.
They said that while they admit that extractive industries play a vital role in pumping up the economy of the world, this should be done under strict regulations and international standards to protect the environment, propel sustainable development, alleviate poverty and respect and preserve the rights and cultural legacy of the IPs.
“We hold our rights to be inherent and indivisible and seek recognition not only of our full social, cultural and economic rights but also our civil and political rights. We condemn all doctrines, policies and practices based on the presumed superiority of certain peoples and worldviews,” they said.
In the Philippines, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources continues to harp the bright opportunities for the mining industry as an estimated $3 Trillion of untapped mineral resources has been opened up for extraction with interested foreign investors. Thus, it is more likely that further dislocations of the local indigenous peoples and environmental degradation will take place unless there is a strong and effective mechanism that will govern the conduct of the mining companies.
Just yesterday, Intex Resources Philippines Inc., a unit of Intex Resources ASA of Norway, signed a $2.95-billion agreement with the Philippines to develop a nickel reserve on an area straddling Occidental and Oriental Mindoro provinces.
This comes at a time when the country also hosts the second international conference in an effort to send a strong message to world and financial leaders to halt future schemes by both the mining companies and governments that go beyond the bounds of the laws and regulations protecting the environment and the rights of the indigenous peoples.
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