17 November 2010 | Interviews | Extractive industries
"We know who the thieves are"
Pacific Rim accuses environmental organizations of “crimes” in Cabañas department, El Salvador
Download: MP3 (1.1 Mb)
Salvadoran communities warn that each time the Canadian mining company charges at the activists, there are crimes and violent acts and at the same time they demand guarantees from the government.
“If anything happens to us or our families, Pacific Rim is to blame”, said Francisco Pineda, President of the Cabañas Environmental Committee, in a press conference. He made reference to the fact that these attacks by the mining company had resulted in murders of leaders of the resistance before.
On Saturday, judicial authorities summoned seven members of the Cabañas Environmental Committee who are accused by the mining company of theft, damage to private property and kidnapping.
Pineda also called the Human Rights Office to pay attention to the attacks by the Canadian company, which was prevented by a governmental institution from continuing its operations, in response to the resistance and denunciations of the community.
“We expect nothing from the company, but we are even more upset with the authorities of the state which are playing along”, said Pineda
The press conference was carried out together with Friends of the Earth International organization, CESTA.
Meanwhile, Miguel Angel Fuentes, member of the Committee, expressed his concern over the safety of his partners and made reference to the crimes that took place last year. “Mi family is afraid, they say “don’t go”. But how can I stand still when my country is at stake?” said the activist.
He also said that mining companies affect communities and expressed his concern over the fact that there are more than 70 new applications being considered.
Meanwhile, another mining company, US Commerce, filed a complaint worth 100 million dollars against El Salvador, after the company was denied an exploitation permit in the Central American country.
According to lapagina.com.sv, the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry suspended Commerce´s exploitation license in 2003, during Francisco Flores´ administration, for considering that the company was responsible for the pollution of San Sebastian River with cyanide, heavy metals, mercury and acids.
The complaint was filed to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) of the World Bank.
Photo: www.censat.org
