We, the undersigned members of the international community, join our Filipino brethren in urging South Cotabato Provincial Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. to veto the recently railroaded amendment of the provincial environmental code lifting the ban on open-pit mining.

The lifting of the ban removes the last obstacle to the 10,000-hectare Tampakan Copper-Gold Project, which, if approved will become among the largest copper mines in the world.

The Tampakan mine will displace at least 5,000 indigenous Lumad people and affect the livelihood of at least 40,000 rural people. It also has a history of bloody violence, with a dozen land and environmental defenders opposing the project killed since 2009.

For People and Planet,

International People’s Conference on Mining (IPCM)

Yes to Life No to Mining – Southeast Asia (YLNM SEA)

International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination & Liberation (IPMSDL)

International League of Peoples’ Struggle - Commission X on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, National Minorities, Oppressed Nationalities and Nations (ILPS X)

International League of Peoples’ Struggle – Commission XIX on Environmental and Climate Justice (ILPS XIX)

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) - Philippines

Defend Tampakan - Philippines

Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) - Philippines

Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines

Asia Pacific Network for Environmental Defenders