KAIROS was deeply saddened to learn of the murder of Marcelo Rivera, an outspoken mining activist and community leader in El Salvador. He was disappeared on June 18 and his body was found 13 days later in a dry well near the community of Ilobasco. His body showed signs of serious abuse and torture.
Marcelo was a leader within the broad movement to oppose large-scale open pit mining in El Salvador. In recent months, as a result of his community organizing and activism, he had faced death threats and at least one attempt on his life.
KAIROS, together with over 100 other civil society groups in Canada and the US, has sent an open letter to the Attorney-General of El Salvador (PDF), urging him to investigate the murder fully and bring to justice those who killed Marcelo Rivera and those who gave the orders.
Given the significant role of Canadian foreign direct investment in El Salvador’s mining sector, the Americas Policy Group, which includes KAIROS, has called on the Government of Canada to put pressure on authorities in El Salvador to investigate fully the circumstances of Marcelo’s disappearance, torture and killing. In a July 23rd letter (PDF) to the Hon. Peter Kent, Minister of State for the Americas, the Americas Policy Group states, in part:
“We share the concern of our colleagues in El Salvador that the killing of Mr. Rivera could be related to his activities as a human rights defender and his work with the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining. Further investigation is required to clarify the circumstances of Marcelo Rivera’s death.”
Before the facts of Mr. Rivera’s murder came to light, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) had written to Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, expressing their concern over the activities of Pacific Rim Mining, a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company operating in El Salvador:
“According to information provided by the Archdiocese of San Salvador and the El Salvador Episcopal Conference, we have learned this company’s mining activities pose a serious threat to the quality of life for the people of the region.”
The Bishop’s letter (PDF) asks Minister Cannon to ensure the company respects human rights and the environment, and to comply with the Salvadoran government’s decision not to allow large-scale open-pit mining. Earlier this year, the government effectively banned open-pit mining, based on citizens’ concerns that mining could seriously threaten human health and local agricultural livelihoods. In response, Pacific Rim has filed a lawsuit against the Salvadoran government under an investor protection chapter of the US free trade agreement with Central America, also known as CAFTA.
For more information on El Salvador’s popular movement on mining, check out “El Salvador’s Gold Fight”:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/6273
Take Action on Mining and Corporate Accountability
KAIROS has been working with other members of Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) to support Bill C-300 (An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries), a private member’s bill that has passed second reading in the House of Commons. It is currently being reviewed by the House foreign affairs committee. If adopted, the bill would ensure that the Canadian government only provides financial and political support to companies that adhere to international human rights and environmental standards in their overseas operations.
Please write to your Member of Parliament, and send copies to all members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, calling on them to support this important bill.
For background information and a sample letter, visit the MiningWatch Canada website:
http://www.miningwatch.ca/index.php?/corporate_social_res/bill_c300__corporate
