"Free trade” continues to terrorize El Salvador
The third assassination of anti-mining/environmental organizers in the state of Cabañas claimed the life of Dora “Alicia” Recinos Sorto on Dec. 26, 2009. This comes on the heels of the second assassination no more than a week ago in the same state of Cabañas in El Salvador. Both of these victims were involved in the Environmental Committee of Cabañas. This organization has been on the forefront of the anti-mining struggle and has been the target of intimidation and multiple assassinations in the last year.
The people of Cabañas have been explicit in their plea to stop Pacific Rim Mining Co. from opening the El Dorado Gold Mine, the main reason being that the mine would decimate the largest source of El Salvador’s drinking water the el Rio Lempa. (see Nov. 2009 CxPJ)
News of Alicia’s assassination reached us, sadly, the morning of Dec. 27, before the wounds of the previous murder have even begun to heal. Alicia was walking home from doing laundry at a “river near her home in Canton Trinidad in the municipality of Sensuntepeque, Cabañas. She was carrying one of her children in her arms as she was shot dead. The child was shot in the foot and is receiving medical care.” (Jason Wallach, )
The second assassination of anti-mining activists in the state of Cabañas in El Salvador had occurred just the week before. Ramiro Rivera Gomez, vice president of the environmental committee of Cabañas, was gunned down while walking with his thirteen-year-old daughter. She was also injured but is in stable condition. Hector Berrios reported that Rivera was murdered by hitmen carrying M-16s.
On, Aug. 7, 2009 Ramiro Rivera Gomez had been shot 8 times in another attempt on his life. Implicated in this shooting was Oscar Menjivar, who has been known for terrorizing other community members involved in anti-mining organizing throughout Cabañas. Community members say that Menjivar had been employed by Pacific Rim at one point, but Pacific Rim denies the claim. Menjivar was also implicated in the April 2008 attack of a farmer, Santos Rodriguez, where Rodriguez had two fingers cut off by a machete.
The Salvadoran Ministry of Environment denied Pacific Rim, a Vancouver-based mining company, the exploration permits needed to proceed with the El Dorado gold mine in Cabañas. The Canadian company is now in the process of a $77 million lawsuit against El Salvador, using the Central American Free Trade Agreement (cafta) to extort the people of El Salvador.
It was in June 2009 when the first victim, Marcelo Rivera, was found tortured and murdered. Since then, there have been attacks, threats on lives, and attempted kidnappings of community members who have been organizing against the El Dorado gold mine.
Priest Luis Alberto Quitanilla was the victim of an attempted kidnapping and assassination in July 2009. Also members of the community radio station, Radio Victoria, have been threatened by phone, text and mail since they became the voice for the resistance.
This new wave of violence that has befallen Cabañas has been linked repeatedly to Pacific Rim and their reactionary agents. However, local police and the former Attorney General’s office have called the incidents common crimes. The continued violence is leaving Salvadorans in a state of fear and frustration, not only because of the nature of the violence but also because of the lack of action on behalf of their Attorney General’s office and local law enforcement.
CISPES (The Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) is calling for US residents to sign on to a letter and to email the Attorney General’s office. Go to cispes.org for sample letters and the sign the letter, both available in Spanish and English.
Olympia CISPES can be contactead at olycispes@gmail.com.