Declaration: We Must Deter Mineral Mining in Mesoamerica!

On Wednesday, April 14 in San Salvador, representatives of community organizations, indigenous communities and environmentalists from Mexico and Central America participated in an International Forum entitled: Mining Companies in Mesoamerica  “Sustainable Development or a Threat to Sovereignty?.” Out of the agreements reached at the International Forum we make the following declaration:

 

Companies from Canada and the United States carry out mining projects that instead of generating national development and community benefits, remove natural resources, damage the environment and provoke social conflicts including grave environmental contamination and murders of opponents to mining in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and the rest of the countries of the region. In spite of community resistance and rejection by the majority of the population of our countries, these companies are imposed on us when they bribe presidents, ministers, deputies, mayors and community leaders and violate national laws, international human rights treaties and their own codes of conduct. Some companies sue states in tribunals like the International Center of Settlement of Differences over Investments (CIADI). Pacific Rim, for example, is demanding $100 million from the Salvadoran government for denying them the permission to extract, and Commerce Group is also suing for $100 million for canceling an operation license; meanwhile Blackfire is threatening the Mexican government with a suit for $800 million.

The suit against the Salvadoran state is being processed through the Free Trade Treaty between Central America, the Dominican Republic and the United States (CAFTA-DR) and the possible arbitration against Mexico would be through the Free Trade Treaty with North America (NAFTA), all protected under the principle of indirect expropriation and mechanisms for solutions of dispute.

Given this important situation, we demand that the Mesoamerican states implement urgent means of environmental and social protection. We demand that these governments:

1-Approve laws prohibiting metallic mining, especially in El Salvador where these projects have not been permitted; and accelerate plans to close mines in the countries where mining extraction exists.

2-Renounce the free trade treaties: repeale CAFTA-DR and NAFTA, refuse to sign ADA and discard the commercial agreement with Canada that benefits Canadian extractive companies.

3-Punish those responsible for the threats, attacks and murders of activists opposed to mining in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and the other countries affected by mining violence.

 

Signed:

Mexican Network of those Affected by Mining (REMA): The Center of Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS); The National Coordinator of Indigenous People and Campesinos of Guatemala (CONIC); The Round Table Against Mineral Mining of El Salvador; The Valley of Siria Environmental Committee; The Civic Alliance for Democracy (ACD); The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations of Honduras (ASONOG); The Humboldt Center of Nicaragua; Mining Watch of Canada

San Salvador, April 14, 2010

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