MANILA, Philippines - An organization of Rapu-Rapu Island residents has demanded the pullout of South Korean investors from the controversial Lafayette Phils. mining site, saying they want no mining operations on the island, which is part of Albay.LG International and Korean Resources Corp. (Kores) gained majority control of Lafayette last April 2008 and took over the operations of the company.Residents slammed Lafayette's Rapu-Rapu polymetallic mining project, saying it is "bankrupt, controversial and environmentally-damaging." Mr. Antonio Casitas, spokesman of the Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa, a local organization that opposes any mining project in the remote island, have said that therte is no point in continuing the operations of Lafayette since it has already brought so environmental destruction, community displacements, human rights violations and livelihood loss to the local people in its three-year operation in the island.Lafayette was found liable by the Philippine government in November 2005 of contaminating the waters in Rapu-Rapu with cyanide and was fined P10 million. Apart from this, two mine spills, a landslide and several fish kills happened during the operation of Lafayette from June 2005 to October 2007.The project on Rapu-Rapu Island carries debts of more than $270 million and A$65.6 million due to operational difficulties and inter-company loans. It was met with continuous and strong protest actions at the local, national and international levels.Casitas reiterated that the Rapu-Rapu mine should be closed for good instead of being sold off to other investors.The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) had previously ordered Lafayette to pay P134 million to ensure that the environment around the mine site is restored and rehabilitated in case the project is abandoned. There is no confirmation if the company had complied.
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