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KMU-Cordillera does not welcome foreign-backed mines

By Lorico “Ka Jun” Espejo
KMU-Cordillera coordinator

Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera’s response to Inquirer article (“KMU says Cordillera labor force welcomes foreign-backed mines”) dated May 2, 2005.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-Cordillera and the region’s workers were never happy with the presence of foreign-backed mining ventures here.

As far as KMU is concerned, the local labor force was never jubilant for having “foreign masters”.

Nor were we ever convinced that foreign administrators are more professional and “more sensitive” to the workers’ plight compared to Filipino employers. This is contrary to what Mr. Vincent Cabreza wrote in his article published May 2, wherein he claims to have merely quoted KMU-Cordillera Regional Coordinator Lorico “Ka Jun” Espejo Jr.

Filipino workers never gained just benefits from foreign capitalists and their local counterparts. These capitalists, regardless of their country of origin are but culprits to the economic hardship of the workers.

Contrary to Mr. Cabreza’s claim in his article, we never praised mining capitalists. Mineworkers are always exploited, facing threats to their lives while in the workplace. Let us not deny the work hazards involved in mining. With their own lives at stake, mining corporations are made richer by the minute while mineworkers are nailed to their impoverished status.

Mineworkers too face the threat of job displacement due to massive retrenchment, contractualization and unjust dismissals. Mining industry does not really solve nor reduce the number of the unemployed.

The Cordillera miners and KMU-Cordillera will never welcome foreign-backed mines that denude forests, scrape mountains and cause massive dislocations of indigenous peoples, especially their fellow Cordillerans. #

Editor’s note: The KMU also sent this letter to the Philippine Daily Inquirer for publication. We are publishing it for our readers guidance, especially that we have been consistently publishing KMU stories on its anti-mining stance.

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