Salvadorans Protest Again Demanding Ban on Metal Mining
Two young men hold banners with phrases against the metal mining in El Salvador. Photo: X/ @SivarAlDia
February 9, 2025 Hour: 5:10 pm
At least 300 Salvadorans gathered this Sunday to reiterate their position against the exploration and exploitation of metallic mining in the Central American country, made possible after the approval in Congress of a law proposed by President Nayib Bukele.
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Environmentalists, human rights defenders, members of civil organizations, the LGTBI community, feminists, and other populations gathered in front of the National Library, in the heart of the capital, accompanied by whistles and pots, and protested with the rhythms of a batucada once again against this practice.
They also carried signs with phrases opposing mining, and some wore scarves, masks, and glasses to cover their faces.
The demonstrators, mostly young people, also used dance and various slogans, such as ‘water is not for sale, it is taken care of and defended’ and ‘Yes to life, no to death!’ to express their stance.
The gathering, which did not affect the functioning of the library—visited by tourists and locals—took place without any altercations and in front of the eyes of hundreds of Salvadorans passing through the area. Some even stopped to watch.
The participants recalled that in 2017, environmentalists succeeded in having mining prohibited in the country after “a historic struggle” and lamented the approval of a law that reverses that prohibition.
Vidalina Morales, a community leader and environmentalist, told reporters that they will continue to express their opposition to mining and stated that “it doesn’t matter if they imprison us, it doesn’t matter if they kill us; if they kill us, thousands of voices will rise up to demand justice.”
“We are many here, alongside the youth, standing up for our environment, standing up for life, saying no to death projects. They will not silence us, they will not intimidate us; we are present because we know that the cause and the struggle we defend is a just cause, a cause for the continuity of life,” she stated.
Fuente: EFE