This morning, March 29, at 11 AM (1 PM ET), the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador will schedule a vote to approve a proposed Law to Ban Metal Mining. If politicians from all parties keep their promise, tomorrow the people of El Salvador with their allies should celebrate an historic victory in a country free of mining.
So much has happened since our recent newsletter where we informed that communities in the town of Cinquera had rejected mining through a local referendum and the Catholic Church of El Salvador had called for massive participation in a public protest to demand legislators to start discussions on the prohibition of mining. When the protest arrived at the legislative assembly, on March 9th, they were greeted by a multiparty commission who committed to start discussions immediately and have legislation ready before the Easter holidays.
Despite of the fact that there is national consensus of communities, civil society organizations, government institutions and political parties for a mining prohibition, OceanaGold and its subsidiaries in El Salvador have consistently attempted to slow the bill’s progress and sought to gain support for their “Responsible Mining” campaign. The company launched the campaign at a fancy hotel in San Salvador after losing the $250 million lawsuit against the government of El Salvador in October 2016.
When legislators announced that they would begin serious discussion on the mining ban, the company intensified its activities. Besides publishing paid communiqués in local pro-business newspapers, social organizations reported that OceanaGold representatives met with government officials to lobby against the bill.
On March 23, a pro-mining protest was organized by the El Dorado Foundation (the foundation created and funded by OceanaGold) in front of the Legislative Assembly while the Commission deliberated over the bill. It was later reported by FMLN Representative Guillermo Mata, President of the Environment and Climate Change Commission, that the busloads of people brought by the foundation from the Department of Cabanas had each been paid $7 plus a free lunch to attend. They were also directed not to talk to the press. Also on March 23, Luis Parada, the lawyer who led the defense team for El Salvador in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), denounced through his twitter account that OceanaGold/Pac Rim sent a letter containing veiled threats of further legal action should El Salvador vote to ban mining.
But the push for a mining prohibition remains strong, this week Carlos Padilla, Governor of Nueva Vizcaya in the Philippines, is visiting El Salvador to share his province’s adverse experience with OceanaGold. Yesterday, in presentations to legislators of the Environment and Climate Change Commission, Mr. Padilla argued the mine had brought no significant economic growth, had violated human rights, posed a threat to the province’s agricultural activity, the environment, and future generations. His testimony has helped break down the myths of economic growth and responsible, sustainable mining propagated by OceanaGold.
Yesterday, after more that decade of pressure from civil society organizations, the Environment and Climate Change Commission unanimously voted to advance the Law to Ban Metal Mining to the floor of the Legislative Assembly. Members of the commission are confident that the bill will make to today’s legislative agenda and be approved by the plenary. There are already signs that members of the pro-business ARENA and PCN parties will back the measure. ARENA Representative Johnny Wright openly backs the law and believes that others in his party also see the dangers of mining and will join him in voting for it.
The Salvadorean legislature is composed of 84 seats and a simple majority of 43 is required to pass the mining ban. But, the current distribution of seats requires uneasy alliances between the conservative parties ARENA, GANA, PCN and PDC parties that dominate the legislature and the left leaning FMLN.
In an effort to show our solidarity with the people of El Salvador, some organizations and individuals close to the International Allies have written to the president of the Legislative Assembly, Guillermo Gallegos, showing our support for initiative. We hope some of you will take some time to do same today and contact Guillermo Gallegos and other key members of the Environment Climate Change Commission( Guillermo Mata, John Wright and Francis Zablah) to encourage them to remain strong in their commitment. See letter to Guillermo Gallegos below.
March 28, 2017
Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete
President, Honorable Legislative Assembly of El Salvador
Honorable Mr. Gallegos,
It is with great pleasure that we have received news that the Environment and Climate Change Commission of the Legislative Assembly has reached, with consensus from all political parties, a resolution to move to a plenary legislative session a vote on legislation for the prohibition of metal mining in El Salvador.
As members of the International Allies against Mining in El Salvador, we have accompanied Salvadorian communities and civil society organizations and networks, like the National Roundtable against Metallic Mining (La Mesa), in their aspirations for democratic and sustainable economic development that will ensure the ecological viability of the country and a good quality of life for current and future generations.
Since 2004, we have heard concerns from our partner organizations in El Salvador about the harmful effects of the industry in a country that has already been classified as environmentally vulnerable. We have applauded when government institutions have responded responsibly to the concerns of citizens in regards to metal mining and we have mobilized our supporters internationally to denounce the legal offensive launched by representatives of the industry in a foreign commercial tribunal.
As organizations that have a long history of solidarity with the people of El Salvador we salute this historic moment and commend the commission’s, and your own, commitment to ensure that the legislation proposed by the Catholic Church, with support from a national consensus of government and civil society organizations, is enacted shortly.
We believe that El Salvador has the sovereign right to determine its own development and that the forthcoming vote in the Legislative Assembly for the prohibition of mining represents a great opportunity to prevent further environmental damage, and an example to the world.
We reaffirm our commitment to continue supporting the Salvadoran people in their struggle to attain their right to live in a healthy environment.
Signatories
Robin Broad, Professor, International Development Program School of International Service, American University, USA
Kevin Bracken, Maritime Union of Australia, Australia
Ron Carver, Campaigns for Social Justice, USA
Vicki Gass, Oxfam
Sean Cleary, Oscar Romero Network, Australia
Bishop Hilton Deakin, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia
Phil Glendenning, Edmund Rice Centre, Australia
Meera Karunananthan, Blue Planet Project, Council of Canadians, Canada
Alexis Stoumbelis, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), USA
Christian Wimberger, Christian Initiative Romero (CIR), Germany
Pedro Cabezas, SalvAide, Canada
Kelsey-Alford Jones, Center for International Environmental Law, USA
Jen Moore, MiningWatch Canada
Stuart Kirsch, Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan, USA
Ross Wells, Washington Ethical Society Global Connection, USA
Carol Murray, US – El Salvador Sister Cities , USA
