From: World Perspectives <worldpnews@igc.apc.org>
Subject: Indigenous vs. geo-thermal project
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 00:55:53 GMT

/* Written  5:51 pm  Oct  5, 1992 by worldpnews in cdp:worldp.samples */
/* ---------- "Indigenous vs. geo-thermal project" ---------- */
From WORLD PERSPECTIVES. Box 3074, Madison, WI 53704


PHILIPPINES
 In past weeks, more than 30 people have been arrested in Mindanao,
including a staff member of the indigenous organization Lumad(?)
Mindanao. President Ramos has deployed 500 paramilitary, 150 elite
Philippine Marines, and more than 2,000 soldiers to the site of a
proposed geo-thermal project, opposed by the indigenous population.

Says the Secretary-General of Lumad Mindanao: "Since Ramos was the
former Secretary of National Defense, I don't believe he is the
protector [of the indigenous people]. The total war policy will be
strengthened against the people. We are always the victims of war
because the military believe that we harbor the New People's Army
or the communist guerrillas, so the military operates under the
assumption that any indigenous person who is not cooperating with
the government is either guerrilla or supporter of the guerrilla
movement, therefore an appropriate target for the military. Our
people don't understand what is leftist or what is communist."

Standing just under 3,000 meter, the dormant volcano Mount Apo is
the highest mountain in the Philippines. It was declared a national
park in 1936 and has been put on the UN list of national parks and
equivalent reserves. To the indigenous people of Mindanao and the
indigenous people who live on Mount Apo's slopes, it is sacred:

"The mountain is the last sacred grounds among the indigenous
peoples of Mindanao. It is sacred to all the people in Mindanao
because it is the highest peak in the Philippines. When we say Apo
it means our ancestor. We believe that this mountain is the abode
of our dead ancestors.

"Mountain Apo has the last remaining important forest in Mindanao
because of the unscrupulous logging that has been operating here
since the 1950's. Mindanao mountains are almost denuded. That is
the only remaining forest whereby, according to some scientists, it
is where the rare flora and fauna could be found that is endemic to
Mount Apo."

The indigenous people have sworn to resist with their lives the
geo-thermal project on Mount Apo. Economic development is seen as
imperative by the Philippines government, with a national debt now
topping $30 billion. It is clear that the 500 megawatt geo-thermal
field at Mount Apo would aid industrialization of Mindanao. But
would it dent the national debt?

Local politicians and the local Bishop have called for a halt to
the project, which might affect hundreds of thousands of people.

Says the Secretary-General: "The destruction of Mount Apo is not
only the destruction of indigenous people, but it is the beginning
of irreversible destruction of the people around Mount Apo. Because
Mount Apo is the fountainhead of 28 rivers and streams, which
supply the rice fields of the low-landers, particularly in central
Mindanao. For the project, it is necessary to cut trees and
bulldoze areas, it is destroying the very foundation of the life of
the people in Mindanao."

The Philippines government has approached the Japan Export-Import
Bank for funding. But the Lumad tribal elders warn that if
development continues, the spirit of Mount Apo will get angry. (R.
Australia 10/2)

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