Support Community Mobilization to Demand Justice for Anti-Mining Leaders in Cabañas

Overview of Violence and Intimidation

In the Department of Cabañas, El Salvador, the last three months have been weighed down by violence and intimidation against community leaders in the region that have stood up to the international mining corporation Pacific Rim and its political allies on the municipal level to detain drilling activities in the El Dorado gold mine near San Isidro, Cabañas.  On June 18th, 2009, Marcelo Rivera, environmentalist, social activist and cultural promoter was disappeared after receiving threats related to his activism against the mining company and against electoral fraud in the 2009 municipal elections. His body was found twelve days later at the bottom of a well showing clear signs of torture reminiscent of the death squads of the 1970's and 1980's.    Since that date, a wave of related violence and threats has ensued (see Timeline of Attacks and Threats) with strong signals of political motives that have been ignored by the National Civilian Police and the Attorney General, who have related these crimes to local gangs without further investigation.

We celebrate the life of Joe DeRaymond, our dear friend and compañero, who passed away on October 1st, 2009, after a year and a half battle with a brain tumor. As many of you know, Joe was a lifelong peace and justice activist and a committed volunteer and supporter of the CIS.  Some might remember him leading the observation in a municipality in one of the last four CIS election observer missions.  Others might have read his commentary (one of many) shedding light on the struggle of the community ¨Sitio de Niño¨ in San Juan Opico, La Libertad after environmental contamination and lead poisoning of citizens, including children, from the waste of the Record Battery Company located there.  Others may have accompanied Joe on a visit to a community: La Loma, Cinquera, San Antonio or another community Joe visited often in El Salvador.  Still others might have sat with him in Spanish class here at CIS.

The fact is, through his commitment to walking with the poor majority, speaking out against injustice, and working to create a just peace, Joe has touched every corner of the CIS with his far-reaching work.  Even after being diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumor in April of 2008, he never gave up his commitment to accompany the struggle for peace and justice in El Salvador and elsewhere.  He continued to pursue his passion and live out his principles up until the end of his time here on earth.

To read the rest of this and other articles in our October/November Newsletter, please click the "read more" button below.