June 3, 2009-06-11
Communication to the Media and Panamanian People
from the Ngöbe solidarity Groups against the Cerro Chorcha Mine.
We wish to advise the country and the media that we have important information about the illegal Cerro Chorcha mining project on the indigenous Ngöbe Comarca. Dominion Minerals Corp. announced, through a letter to Shareholders dated June 2, 2009, that all “preparation has been make and the drill are on site” to begin 26 new exploration site. We completely reject the Cerro Chorcha mine project and the actions of Dominion Minerals Corp, and the Panamanian Government that violate our rights as indigenous people are our patrimony.
In light of this information, various delegations from Ngöbe communities and Ngöbe solidarity groups will arrive at the illegal Cerro Chorcha mining site on June 5, 2009 – the International Day for the Environment.
We will go to the mining camp from various communities of the Comarca, from both sides of the Continental divide. Many of us will walk 2 or 3 days to be present at this act of solidarity against the Cerro Chorcha project.
Our non-violent presence on the site of the mining destruction petitions:
* The immediate leaving of Dominion Minerals (USA) from the Ngöbe Comarca and a stop to the abuses of the Ngöbe people.
* The immediate cancellation of the Metallic Exploration Concession #6 of 2006
(Cerro Chorcha) by the Minister of Commerce and industry, Gilela Alvarez de
Porres.
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We here provide several important aspects of the illegal mining activity on Cerro Chorcha:
- The current concession is 242 square kilometers within the indigenous Ngöbe Comarca, and the environmentally protected areas of Palo Seco Reserve and Fortuna Forrest Reserve. The Company has petitioned to extend the area of the concession.
- The Company received the exploration concession from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI), signed by Manuel Jose Paredes, who appeared as CEO of Dominion Minerals in February 2009, two months after resigning from his position with the government. (Corruption!). MICI approved the concession with no Environmental Impact Study (EIS)
- The “permission” from the Ngöbe Comarca that Dominion Minerals Corp. is working under is illegal, as the Ngöbe General Congress is responsible for such decision and has always rejected open-pit mining within the Comarca. The company has bought the illegal signature of those who do not have the legal nor moral right to speak for us as Ngöbe.
- In December 2008, the company presented an Environmental Impact Study for the 26 new drill sights, which the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment rejected on March 9, 2009, sighting many factors including:
- Lack of a program of sharing information with the Ngöbe communities
- Lack of participation of the Ngöbe in the decision process
- Dominion Minerals’ illegal 11 drill sights in 2007 (no EIS, no valid permission from the
Comarca)
- Previous environmental damage (contamination of the Guariviara River, change in plant
color, land slides due to mining activity) and the failure to present methods to prevent
future damage.
In spite of all this, Pini Althaus, acting CEO of Dominion Minerals Corp announced to shareholders on June 2, 2009 that the sites are prepared and the drills are in place.
We are emphatic is stating that we are going to the illegal mining sight in a peaceful manner and reject any act of violence.
YES TO LIFE! NO TO THE MINE!
The Ngöbe Solidarity Groups Against the Cerro Chorcha Mine
