Recent Statements Cause Alarm for the Anti-Mining Movement
After months of waiting for the Salvadoran central government to release its mining sector Strategic Environmental Assessment, the Vice-Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources was quoted in a local newspaper as saying “It is not possible in the present conditions […] to introduce mining activities in the country and guarantee environmental measures.” She went on to say that there are two possible solutions for the problem: to not give out any more mining permits or suspend current mining activity.
The Vice-Minister’s statements have been strongly criticized by the communities and organizations resisting mining in El Salvador. In its news bulletin the National Roundtable against Metallic Mining (the Mesa in Spanish) responded “The news could be interpreted positively, but, on the contrary, the Mesa is very worried that, instead of considering a definitive ban on subsoil metal extraction, the only possible scenarios, according statements from officials, are not to give out more exploitation permits or the suspension of current mining activity. This is particularly alarming because it would indicate that the Salvadoran government is looking towards a moratorium on mining actively that would allow them to create the institutional and technical conditions necessary to active said industry in the future, in spite of the all the negative impacts on an environmental, social, and human rights level which are inherent in metallic mining."
In response to the statements by government officials, as well as news that mining companies have been increasing their activities in communities, on May 23rd members of the Mesa presented four separate requests for information to the Ministry of the Economy, using the recently enacted Access to Public Information Law. They asked for an official copy of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, as well as the names of the companies applying for mining permits and the names of their legal representatives.
At first the Mesa was told only one representative would be allowed to enter the Ministry building to present the requests, and that none of the press covering the event would be allowed in. This unexpected response provoked the question by many in the Mesa: “Why does the Ministry of the Economy not want to deal with us?” After some negotiating and standing outside a locked door for a while, all of the Mesa representatives and press were allowed into the Ministry to present the paperwork.
According to the Ministry official who received the petitions, the information will be returned within 10 days. However, the Mesa is not fully confident that all the information they requested will actually be provided.
For pictures of the activity…..
For press in Spanish in the CoLatino….