Councilor Marin is 23rd green activist killed under Arroyo, Kalikasan PNE says
Environmental activists from Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) today condemned the murder of a local official opposed to the Romblon Nickel Project of Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation Limited (SNPDC) in Sibuyan island in Romblon.
According to initial reports from local anti-mining alliance Sibuyan Aton Manggad (SAM), Councilor Armin R. Marin was gunned down at around 9:30 a.m. today at a picket by hundreds of residents in front of the SNPDC's miner's quarters in Sitio Olango in Barangay España, San Fernando, Sibuyan Island.
According to SAM, a heated confrontation happened earlier between the protesters and a certain guard of the company named Mario Kingo. Councilor Marin attempted to pacify Kingo, who was armed with a gun at that time. Marin, however, was felled shortly after by a shot in the mouth in front of the picketers, the bullet exiting at the back of his head. Marin died while en route to the hospital.
Marin has been a staunch anti-mining advocate even before he was elected councilor. He has been with SAM in opposing mining operations and applications in Sibuyan Island.
"Kalikasan PNE condemns in the strongest terms the killing of Councilor Marin and demands immediate and complete justice for his death," Bautista said.
"Councilor Marin is the 23rd environmental advocate to be killed under the Arroyo administration. Of this statistic, Marin is the 20th to be killed in relation to large-scale mining projects by the government," he added. Statistics from human rights group KARAPATAN count over 800 activists who were victims of extrajudicial killings under Arroyo.
"Kalikasan PNE is alarmed at this continuing bloodshed of anti-mining advocates and defenders of national patrimony under the current administration. The kilings are sure to continue if the Arroyo administration insists on pursuing these large-scale mining projects," Bautista said.
The Romblon Nickel Project is being operated by Australian mining firm Pelican Resources Limited (PRL) through its subsidiary Sunshine Gold Pty, in its partnership with SNPDC.
"We reiterate the demand that the mining projecct by SNPDC in Sibuyan be pulled out for causing these human rights violations against community leaders. We demand that the DENR scrap all plans of approving the main Mineral Production and Sharing Agreement (MPSA) mining permit being sought by Pelican for the site," Bautista said.
According to initial reports from local anti-mining alliance Sibuyan Aton Manggad (SAM), Councilor Armin R. Marin was gunned down at around 9:30 a.m. today at a picket by hundreds of residents in front of the SNPDC's miner's quarters in Sitio Olango in Barangay España, San Fernando, Sibuyan Island.
According to SAM, a heated confrontation happened earlier between the protesters and a certain guard of the company named Mario Kingo. Councilor Marin attempted to pacify Kingo, who was armed with a gun at that time. Marin, however, was felled shortly after by a shot in the mouth in front of the picketers, the bullet exiting at the back of his head. Marin died while en route to the hospital.
Marin has been a staunch anti-mining advocate even before he was elected councilor. He has been with SAM in opposing mining operations and applications in Sibuyan Island.
"Kalikasan PNE condemns in the strongest terms the killing of Councilor Marin and demands immediate and complete justice for his death," Bautista said.
"Councilor Marin is the 23rd environmental advocate to be killed under the Arroyo administration. Of this statistic, Marin is the 20th to be killed in relation to large-scale mining projects by the government," he added. Statistics from human rights group KARAPATAN count over 800 activists who were victims of extrajudicial killings under Arroyo.
"Kalikasan PNE is alarmed at this continuing bloodshed of anti-mining advocates and defenders of national patrimony under the current administration. The kilings are sure to continue if the Arroyo administration insists on pursuing these large-scale mining projects," Bautista said.
The Romblon Nickel Project is being operated by Australian mining firm Pelican Resources Limited (PRL) through its subsidiary Sunshine Gold Pty, in its partnership with SNPDC.
"We reiterate the demand that the mining projecct by SNPDC in Sibuyan be pulled out for causing these human rights violations against community leaders. We demand that the DENR scrap all plans of approving the main Mineral Production and Sharing Agreement (MPSA) mining permit being sought by Pelican for the site," Bautista said.
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