Activist Warns About Social Conflicts In North Region Of El Salvador

EL SALVADOR

Activist warns about social conflicts in north region of El Salvador

El Salvador, 21 March 2007
By Leonel Herrera -- Diario CO Latino Newspaper
www.diariocolatino.com

If the Executive and Legislative Assembly do not prevent the carrying out of precious metals extractive projects in the northern zone of the country, serious social conflicts will be unleashed, has warned David Periera, representative of the Association of Social Economic Development (ADES).

According to this activist working against metals mining, the first "uprisings" could be taking place in communities opposed to these projects, due to impact on human health, the environment and productive activities such as agriculture, fishing and cattle. "If the government doesn't act, this will happen in the entire northern zone affected by exploration permits awarded by the Office of Mining and Petroleum of the Ministry of the Economy to transnational mining firms such as Canada's Pacific Rim," said Pereira.

The environmental activist placed responsibility on the Presidency for the unfolding conflicts between communities and mining companies. The executive branch has permitted the companies to operate without consultation, and without taking into account the ecological damages, especially regarding water resources. Pereira warned about the contamination of the Lempa River. "The communities are defending not only their water, but also the country's most important water source," he said, in justification of the protest actions that residents of the northern zone, protests which have intensified in past days.

The ADES representative says that these conflicts could be avoided if the Executive suspends the exploration permits, or if the Parliament approves a new Mining Law which prohibits large-scale metals mining projects. This is a proposal which has been recently made by National Roundtable regarding mining.

Strategies of Pacific Rim Denounced

David Pereira also railed against Canadian mining firm Pacific Rim, who have inserted themselves in the department of Cabañas. Pacific Rim has carried out a strategy of buying support, provoking incidents to attack opposition and generate divisions between affected communities, with the goal of weakening community resistance to their projects. The buying of support is directed at local governments and officials, community leaders and members of the ADESCO boards, (Associations of Communal Development). The incidents of conflict have included acts of repression by the National Civil Police (PNC) and the army, entities being used by the Canadian mining firm. The conflicts between the residents are designed to "pit some communities against others," in order to weaken the resistance to metals mining operations, and consist in dividing the communities between "those that are in favor, and those at are opposed" to these projects, the environmental activist stated.