Sister Cities
Gold Mining Analysis and Resistance Series #4, February 2009
Public Statements against Mineral Mining in El Salvador
U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities
27 February 2009
As the time allowed by the Notice of Intent (NOI) for arbitration filed by the Canadian mining company Pacific Rim Corp. against the Salvadoran government continues to wind down, public statements opposing mineral extraction have increased. It is still unclear what will happen once the NOI expires on March 9th. However, it has become very clear that both Salvadoran citizens and officials alike are certain that mining would bring environmental and social problems to the small country.
New Archbishop States his Opposition to Mining
On February 14th the recently appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas, publicly stated his opposition to mineral mining in El Salvador, during the first homily after assuming his new role.
He stated: “In the most respectful manner possible, I would like to make a vehement call to the current government of our republic, and the next government that will take power on the first of June, which ever party it is, I call on them to not allow the exploitation of precious metals and silver in our country.”
Monseñor Escobar Alas is following in the footsteps of his predecessor Fernando Sáenz Lacalle by stating his opposition to mineral exploitation and by positioning the church on the side of the people affected by mining instead of on the side of the mining companies. During the homily he invited “everyone to be conscious of the urgent need to help our poorest brothers, in an effective and affective way, because they are our brothers.”
The Monseñor’s statements were received by approval and applause, not only by the attendants of the homily, but by the people in communities organizing against mineral exploitation.
For more information:
Monseñor Alas: “minería es sumamente contaminante”
Monseñor Escobar Alas se compromete a ser un pastor cercano al pueblo
Asume nuevo arzobispo de San Salvador, quien rechaza la minería
President Saca Says he Prefers Arbitration to Exploitation
The President of the Republic of El Salvador, Antonio Elias Saca, announced that he would rather “pay the millions [of dollars] than allow mining,” according to an article published in La Prensa Grafica on February 26th. He also stated that according to legal council he has received, El Salvador is under no legal obligation to issue exploitation permits, even though exploration permits were given, and that he is confident El Salvador would win in arbitration, if the case proceeds.
These seemingly significant statements were made by a president who has less than four months in office, while Rodrigo Avila, the presidential candidate from President Saca’s ARENA party, has yet to make any public statements regarding mining. By publicly opposing mining with out taking any action, like an executive decree banning mineral exploitation, President Saca is playing on the general public’s opposition to mining, without committing his political party or their candidate to action after June. The president of the Association of Communities for the Development of Chalatenango (CCR) Blanca Miraima Ayala says, “We don’t believe President Saca. This is pure politics.” Furthermore, according to statements made by Thomas Shrake, Pacific Rim CEO, in December 2008 President Saca promised exploitation permits after the March 15th elections.
For more information:
No a la minería: Saca cierra puertas a explotación de metales
Saca: El Salvador puede ganar demanda contra minera
El presidente Saca ¿rechaza la minería?
Thousands of Salvadorans Reject Mining
On February 19th, hundreds of Salvadorans joined the caravan organized by the National Table against Mineral Mining to show their opposition to mineral mining in El Salvador. The purpose of the event was to turn in to the Executive Branch of the government 10,000 letters signed by citizens all across the country stating their opposition to precious mineral mining in El Salvador.
The caravan was met by barbed wire and riot police on the way to the Presidential House and was not able to reach their destination. However, a representative of President Saca did come to talk with members from Table.
The National Mining Table has commended Maurcio Funes for his statement of commitment to not allow mineral exploitation, in the case he is elected president in the March 15th elections, and also calls the ARENA presidential candidate, Rodrigo Avila, to make a similar commitment. They continue to collect letters and the next batch will be turned into the new president, immediately after he takes power in June.
For more information:
Organizaciones sociales exigen del gobierno pronunciarse contra la minería
National Mining Table Against Metallic Mining
