Hundreds of Salvadorans Protest Over Metal Mining Law Pushed by Nayib Bukele
People gathered in the steps of the newly reconstructed Biblioteca Nacional de El Salvador. Photo. X/ @ysuca91siete
January 19, 2025 Hour: 4:30 pm
Around 500 people gathered this Sunday in the Historic Center of the capital of El Salvador to protest against the approval of a law that enables metallic mining in the country and the push for this industry that President Nayib Bukele is seeking to promote.
RELATED:
Community Organization Asks El Salvador Deputies Not to Repeal Mining Law
The protesters staged a “sit-in” on the steps of the National Library of El Salvador (Binaes), a modern building donated by China, where they shouted slogans and gave speeches against mining and in favor of environmental conservation.
The religious Monsignor Neftali Ruiz said they “consider this issue is very complicated and we can not remain silent,” added the religious and recalled that previous attempts to allow mining have led to the persecution of environmentalists and the murder of several, In the Cabañas department.
The protesters also warned that this activity would endanger the water sources that supply more than 50% of Salvadorans, such as the Lempa River, the largest in the country.
The hundreds of protesters, mostly young people, carried banners with messages like “mining is death,” “every mine pollutes,” “the rivers don’t scream, but I do,” and “water is worth more than gold.”
They also called on the rest of the population to join the anti-mining movement and to “not be afraid, because water is a right.”
Last December, the Salvadoran Congress, dominated by the ruling Nuevas Ideas party, repealed the mining ban approved in 2017 and passed a new law that allows such exploitation.
President Bukele stated in early December that the Central American country has the gold deposits “with the highest density per squared kilometer in the world,” without citing any specific research or documents.
Autor: ACJ
Fuente: EFE // Radio YSUCA