This week, the 7th Asia Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition is being held in Makati City, Philippines. The conference brings together ASEAN and Asia Pacific Ministers as well as the ASEAN Federation of Mining Associations and the Chamber of Mines, to address issues, concerns and developments in the mining industry in the Asia Pacific region.
We are seriously concerned with large-scale mining operations by transnational corporations in developing countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, as they result in massive dislocation of indigenous communities, cultural disintegration, and gross environmental destruction, seriously threatening bio-diversity and ecological integrity and gravely contributing to irreversible impacts on climate change.
We call on the ASEAN and Asia Pacific Ministers to ensure stronger participation of local community and national civil society groups in the debates and discussions on the large-scale mining industry, and to provide ample spaces for dialogue between governments, communities and mining companies inside and outside conferences.
We encourage and support the actions of national advocacy groups such as the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) of the Philippines, in bringing to the fore crucial issues on large-scale mining, and articulating the voices of victims of this industry.
We ask governments and mining companies to respect the rights of indigenous peoples, and to promote development which directly benefits local indigenous communities, preserves their culture and traditions and which promotes bio-diversity.
Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA)
June 4, 2007
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