This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 12, April 30-May 6, 2006
Unity Key to Winning
Struggles
Lawyer William
“Billy” Claver, founding chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance (CPA),
shared, during this year’s Cordillera Day commemoration, that Spaniards and
Americans entered Kalinga to exploit the rich mineral resources. He pointed out
that for this same reason, mining companies are applying for mining operations
in the area today.
BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
Lawyer William “Billy” Claver, founding chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples’
Alliance (CPA), was the keynote speaker of this year’s Cordillera Day
commemoration. He shared that Spaniards and Americans entered Kalinga to exploit
the rich mineral resources. He pointed out that what attracted the colonizers
then was the same reason that entices mining companies to apply for mining
operations in the area today.
Claver pointed out that the people did not necessarily benefit
from mining. He cited the effect of mining operations on the rivers and the
environment.
Even after clearing out the resources, corporate interests again
expelled the (indigenous) peoples in the area to give way to a sub-division for
the rich, said Claver, citing cases in Benguet. His speech was read by his
nephew Dr. Chandu Claver. The older Claver was in Tabuk recuperating from
illness.
Claver cited that Marcos opened Batong Buhay in Kalinga, which
served as an instrument for graft and corruption among politicians, including
locals.
As a member of the 1971 Constitutional Commission, Claver
introduced two measures regarding respect for the ancestral domain of indigenous
peoples and autonomous government for them. These measures were filed but
logging and corporate interests blocked it. He tried to reintroduce the
ancestral domain bill in the post-EDSA House of Representatives where he was a
member but was blocked again by corporate interests.
Participants to the Cordillera day workshop reported that there
are several mining corporations in various stages of operations in the province
and the whole Cordillera region. They passed resolutions calling for the
scrapping of the Mining Act of 1995; to stop militarization and ethnocide,
political repression and Oplan Bantay Laya; and to expose and oppose charter
change, among others.
Claver adds that the Cordillera experiences taught the people to
rely and depend on themselves as indigenous peoples.
“It teaches us that our problems as peoples can be fought and won
through unity and militant action,” Claver said.
Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat